* dick <dick.r.chi...@gmail.com> [2022-01-31 21:07]: > JL> Many Free OS websites do not have clear way to pay. They have > JL> donations. > > To be clear, you're saying a "donation" is optional and "payment" is > non-optional. That is, under "payment", one is legally bound to remit > payment to the author before use notwithstanding the fact that his > software can be downloaded unabridged from various ftp sites.
I don't say that. What I say is that majority of websites do not have any kind of payments. Now why complain if they did not ask for it? There are many ways to get money for free software: 1) Sell it. Author need not disclose neither publish the software. It can be sold individually. But somebody else will publish it. I think this method is best and it will not be problematic. Those who cannot pay will go somewhere else, those who find it valuable will pay. 2) Sell it in the same time, and offer download free of charge. Let people choose if they wish to pay or they wish to download it free of charge. 3) Ask for donations at the same page where software is downloaded. Authors may also ask for donations from various foundations, companies using the software and similar, 4) Author can also choose to hide the call for donations, never ask anybody and later "victimize" downloaders and blame people for "not paying". 5) Or don't sell it, don't ask for donations. Jean Take action in Free Software Foundation campaigns: https://www.fsf.org/campaigns In support of Richard M. Stallman https://stallmansupport.org/