I am not referring to if you are the developer. You should absolutely be able profit from your own work. But why must you also give others the freedom to profit from your work, or the freedom to strip your profits away by distributing the work without charge? If physical goods could be copied like software, no one would be able to make money.

Suppose that in a world where all software is free software, a person arises whose sole skill is programming (this could easily happen). They write a powerful, reliable, and flawless program and start selling it for a reasonable price to make a living with their only skill. Their profits skyrocket and immediately disappear as people start distributing the software for free. Unable to support themselves, they commit suicide.


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