"phil hunt" wrote in message
. ..
On Thu, 18 Sep 2003 20:15:39 +0100, Keith Willshaw
wrote:
[regarding compiling open source software]

Piracy is irrelevant consideration to open source software. It is
relevant to proprietary software, where it can reduce revenues,
which is likely to cause open source to predominate over time.


Its highly relevant when software costs a shedload of money
to develop. Developing software that does complex tasks
like process simulation costs a LOT of money and contrary to
popular belief many software companies walk a line awfully
close to bankruptcy. Finding that your software can be bought for
$2 a time in Beijing is mighty disheartening

I don't see govmts going bust, that's not really a consideration for
them.

Governments arent the main customers for software.

For operating systems and office suites, they are. In the UK, the
main customer for these sorts of software is the state. The same in
most other countries.


Cite please.

I seriously doubt the UK Government owns the majority
of PC's in this country

Keith