On 10/26/05, The Irrelevant Elephant <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> hank williams wrote:
> > Throwing "unnecessary spanners in the machine" is to some extent what
> > the "victims" of open source often feel is happening. I am sure
> > microsoft feels linux is "unnecessary."
>
> Not a particularly fair analogy, though.  For starters I don't think the
> Linux community in general give a rat's buttock what Microsoft thinks ..
> whereas we do care about what Macromedia think.
>

Ok, well, then we should stop the red5 project, because I am *sure*
that MM doesnt like it.  If they did, then no reverse engineering
would be necessary. They would have already provided the protocol
specs (years ago). The fact is they charge $4500 for a 10mps server
that can serve mayber 30-40 quality streams at one time. They seek
hundreds of thousands of dollars in licensing fees from large scale
customers. No sane software company would wish for a free alternative
to this, and thus far from a business perspective they have not in any
way signaled that they would like for there to be a free alternative
out there.

> Also the Linux community have no interest in the plight of Windows
> (except for maybe wishing it into the gutter) .. whereas here we are all
> targeting the same Flash Player.
>
> Given that the open source flash tools are designed and built to
> /enhance/ the Flash platform .. I really don't think you can compare.
>

This may be true. But again, I think a primary motivation (though not
the only motivation) for red5 is the *outrageous* pricing model of
fcs/fms. I dont think the red5 guys are going "gee if MM feels
threatened maybe we shoulnt do this because they might not like us". I
suspect strongly that MM will feel that red5 reduces revenue. Does
this mean that the red5 guys are or arent concerned with the "plight"
of adobe/macromedia, a 10+ billion dollar company?

> > I would agree with a more conciliatory tone, were it not for the fact
> > that Mike Chambers comments and legal reference are totally unfounded.
> > It is clear he is not versed in the law on this subject, and I doubt
> > he has contacted internal MM counsel on his references and statement.
> > By making wrong statements here that dampen enthusiasm or create fear,
> > whether purposefully or not, he is engaging in Macromedia FUD.
>
> For what purpose?  I really don't think Mike is intentionally trying to
> spread FUD.  As I said already, if anything I suspect he's just trying
> to help us see where the boundaries are.

As I said, whether it is purposeful or not, I think it is FUD, and I
think it is problematic.

Nothing Mike has said has
> dampened enthusiasm or created fear .. it's just brought certain
> considerations that have thus far been swept under the carpet into the
> forefront of everybody's mind.
>
> > Personally, I dont think this can be stood for. I think people, and
> > companies, should stand up for what they believe in and play it
> > totally straight. Mr Chambers is either not playing it straight, or he
> > is not fully knowledgeable. Either way, it is problematic for people
> > who are primarily technical on this list and are perhaps more
> > succeptible to the big bad wolf warning them to hear such uninformed
> > messages.
>
> I do understand where you are coming from, really I do.  However I do
> think you are perhaps reading too much into it.  It would serve no
> purpose to embrace osflash with one hand, and slap it with the other.
> Hence I don't think there is any underlying motive.
>

Legal issues like this are life and death. I dont think there is any
way to read too much into it. I judge by the act without regard to the
underlying motive. If you shoot me, I dont care whether you really
meant to hit some other guy. You still shot me.

> Still, it's good to hear your opinion :)

Thank you. I enjoy debating these issues, and through discussion,
gaining clarity. I hope no one takes offense at anything I say. I find
everyone on this group to be incredibly intellectually stimulating and
I truly appreciate the opportunity to share my opinion.

Regards
Hank

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