Funding [LWN.net]

Funding

Posted Apr 14, 2006 14:27 UTC (Fri) by dwheeler (guest, #1216)
In reply to: Funding by hppnq
Parent article: Open Source Parking

But as Bruce noted above, those organizations CANNOT do certain things to work against software patents BECAUSE of the way they're organized. Therefore, there's a good reason to create another organization, to do things the others can't.

I would agree that if Bruce wants to manage a serious amount of money, then he needs to define more details about how the money will be used. But to be fair to him, he's just starting to get this thing off the ground; I get the impression that his short-term goal was simply to counter nonsense statistics. I suspect that when he realized a small amount of money might become available, that's when he noted his plans for any money.

to post comments

Funding

Posted Apr 14, 2006 15:12 UTC (Fri) by hppnq (guest, #14462) [Link] (6 responses)

But as Bruce noted above, those organizations CANNOT do certain things to work against software patents BECAUSE of the way they're organized.

Yes, I got that.

Therefore, there's a good reason to create another organization, to do things the others can't.

No, not per se. That's one of the things that's bothering me. We could also rent a huge balloon and paint "Free Software Now" on it in big red capitals. You send me the cash, and I guarantee you it will at least fly. :-)

Funding

Posted Apr 14, 2006 16:57 UTC (Fri) by BrucePerens (guest, #2510) [Link] (3 responses)

If I pull this off, I would obviously want to work with people from FSF, EFF, Public Knowledge, etc. For their own reasons, those organizations are not choosing to do this work today.

It is possible for a 501(c)3, or at least the members of one, to create a not-for-profit foundation that is not a 501(c)3 and can do this work. For example, there is ARRL and the ARRL Foundation, two separate organizations working closely together.

EFF could conceivably do this, but is not. EFF is pretty stretched financially, as they historically were funded by one person who saw his wealth diminish in the stock bubble. FSF has other avenues it would rather pursue. I had lunch with Eben and the Freedom Law Center folks last week and discussed this thoroughly.

Thanks

Bruce

Funding

Posted Apr 16, 2006 10:07 UTC (Sun) by hppnq (guest, #14462) [Link] (2 responses)

I had lunch with Eben and the Freedom Law Center folks last week and discussed this thoroughly.

Yes, and the outcome was ...

By the way, what did the Apache people think of your plan?

Funding

Posted Apr 16, 2006 12:19 UTC (Sun) by BrucePerens (guest, #2510) [Link] (1 responses)

I don't want to say what Eben would spend money on, that's for him to announce.

I haven't discussed this with Apache folks yet.

Bruce

Funding

Posted Apr 16, 2006 15:37 UTC (Sun) by hppnq (guest, #14462) [Link]

I don't want to say what Eben would spend money on, that's for him to announce.

Ah, that's obviously not what I meant. But I'm not pushy. :-)

Funding

Posted Apr 15, 2006 17:25 UTC (Sat) by illtyd (guest, #2124) [Link] (1 responses)

hppnq:

Has Bruce asked you for any money? No

The only people being asked for money are potential advertisers on the parking site. IF you want to advertise there, then you can decide if you want to on the basis of value for money and whether you like the idea of the PAC. My guess is you aren't going to be advertising, so what does it matter to you what Bruce does with the money he gets from it.

Funding

Posted Apr 16, 2006 10:27 UTC (Sun) by hppnq (guest, #14462) [Link]

Your train of thought comes to a screeching halt at the first junction.

Bruce does ask me for money.