Some LWN notes [LWN.net]

Some LWN notes

Posted Jan 8, 2004 18:10 UTC (Thu) by markc (guest, #4419)
Parent article: Some LWN notes

Perhaps a silly suggestion but it might be worth a few minutes typing. It's not that easy to support FLOSS financially as there are only a few channels to donate cash to some individuals and organisations. It's almost the opposite situation to traditional software piracy, we use software for free and, in general, find it difficult to channel funds where it counts. If LWN managed a FLOSS software fund on a 50/50 basis with total accountability... I mean ALL funds donated via this system can be publically tracked... and the donors could be acknowledged (if they chose to be) then I could imagine I would be willing to donate from $10 up to $100 a month (certainly per year) towards a fund that LWN kept 50% of, got my name/business acknowledged on the back page of LWN, and I could somehow partake of a "vote" as to where all or some part of the other 50% pool of funds would go to... either individual or project.

Some reasons why... as stated, it's not obviously easy to donate anything at all to anywhere let alone somewhere that I feel comfortable. I know, there are FSF/EFFs but they tend to be a bit political and just a black hole to throw a donation at... I can't see where the money is going, get no public acknowledgement and no control over where the funds ultimately go. I trust LWN, I already give it money every month, increasing that level of commitment is a lot easier than seeking out and feeling comfortable putting it somewhere else. So I think if these basic guidelines could be adhered to then there might be a chance it could work, if only some "authority" with credibility would provide the opportunity...

complete and open accountability of the funds, no question
definitive acknowledgement of a donation (if desired)
real or perceived control over where the funds go

I have zero problem with LWN keeping 50% for their own usage but would suggest it most honourable if they disclosed where those funds went and I would be especially respectful if their 50% of the funds went mostly to pay for more articles and documentation... ie; to help get the kernel driver articles onto the dead tree stuff so they could make even more money selling them... to help make LWN so compelling they get more subscribers etc.

I mean, wouldn't it be just terrible if it became trendy for larger companies to out-donate each other in a donation frenzy war of one upmanship. It could happen if there was a credible and neutral venue for these kind of proceedings.

Bah... too crazy... pass me the remote so I can change channels...

--markc

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