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Written by Gilles DePemig on 2024-09-20 at 11:22

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I just had a discussion with my boss (in a state-funded #academic #hospital department) about the fact that some of the #software developed here, is being sold, mostly to academic institutions.

His only argument: we need to pay our people so we can continue doing what we do. He said this, even though admitting that this software is not even paying its own development. Indeed, the costs involved in the overhead of making the software sellable may not even be covered.

[#]FOSS

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Written by Gilles DePemig on 2024-09-20 at 11:22

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I of course replied that:

1. It is unethical to sell stuff you made using money of the community.

2. The development of the software is mostly payed for by the public hospital, and for the largest share, directly and indirectly, by the #grant-provider (#SNF in this case). The latter also pays the customer to buy the product!

3. The value of freely available software (in terms of utility for the entire world) is much higher than proprietary software.

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Written by Gilles DePemig on 2024-09-20 at 11:23

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The previous two points should be a reason for the grant provider to be more likely willing to pay more if you explicitl make the software #FOSS.

5. Making software #FOSS does not mean you can not make #money with #service contracts, where you fairly charge the hours you spend.

6. If the goal is to make our organisation financially more healthy, we could better do something profitable aside. Like selling icecream or start a gardening deparment.

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Written by Gilles DePemig on 2024-09-20 at 11:24

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Which of these arguments, in your experience, is the most powerfull to start (and end?) a discussion with? Do you know better arguments I could have given? Does anyone know a good site where this point is made more eloquently than I did?

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Written by Tommi 🤯 on 2024-09-20 at 12:06

@Depemig This is a good question, one I struggle with too.

Cc: @fsfe @dario #PMPC #PublicCode #PublicMoneyPublicCode

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