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Why wait for 2013? GnuBg for Android Announced This Week

Posted By: Michael Petch
Date: Monday, 24 December 2012, at 5:49 a.m.

In Response To: Why wait for 2013? GnuBg for Android Announced This Week (Taper_Mike)

Actually making money from open source projects isn't uncommon, and its actually allowed. The Free in Free Software is freedom to do what you wish with it, not the actual cost.

However, when I saw the alpha version there were no ads. The final release there were. It comes down more to reputation of the name "GNU Backgammon" being associated with online marketing like this. One already knows how well the ads went over with XG, and GNU Backgammon has always turned down requests for even advertising on our website. Interestingly enough, we never sold out to the likes of Logic Empire.

For me it is a matter of keeping to the spirit of what we already do. If we place GNU Backgammon in the name, people can be openly critical that we sold out. There is of course the issue with leaking information with advertising that can be considered a privacy concern.

The group doing the work though is doing this all above board, and with good intentions. The in game advertising was a concern, since it (IMHO) reflects badly on our brand. I am confident something will be worked out. The whole idea is good for everyone. The group who did the work has made all the source code available, and pretty much adhered to the GPLv3 license.

The best short term solution is to brand their application without "GNU Backgammon" in the product name, however they have to give credit/copyright owners per the license.

PocketBG for the iPhone is a re-branded version of GNUBG. I am absolutely confident that there will be an android based app forthcoming that is based on GNUBG, but maybe just not with our name.

On a side note, for anyone interested. The founder (Richard Stallman) of the Free Software Foundation (FSF) that created the GPL license has actually spoken up about his view on some types of advertising, most especially targeted ads on Ubuntu based on queries you do on your PC. http://www.fsf.org/blogs/rms/ubuntu-spyware-what-to-do

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