Is it really The End? [LWN.net]

Is it really The End?

Posted Aug 1, 2002 13:47 UTC (Thu) by ajcpi (subscriber, #1122)
Parent article: Is it really The End?

OK. so the problems plaguing LWN are a microcosm of the issues confronting Free software.
There was a proposal made a while back (http://www.firstmonday.dk/issues/issue4_6/kelsey/index.html)
about a mechansism for paying producers of free content without compromising the freedom of the content. It occurs to me that LWN might well be a "Proof of Concept" case for this protocol. LWN can commit to producing editions on the condition that sufficient money flows in (perhaps edition by edition, or perhaps only if 3 months of salaries remain in the kitty or some such), and to return the money to contributors if the threshold is not reached. LWN probably has sufficient credibility with it's readers to have their trust etc.

I like this sort of arrangement because it asserts that you should be paid for your efforts and creativity and contribution without creating an artificial monopoly on the content produced.

If this can be made successfull, LWN can perhaps sponsor other free content producers under similar arrangements. (for a (small? ) fee?)

Perhaps the authors of the article would be willing to help work out policies and arrangements.

Just an idea, and surely could use refinement.

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