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I've been wondering for a while whether the app store model will foster more paid open source software. Theoretically, the app store owner can protect the origi
by takluyver 13y ago
I've been wondering for a while whether the app store model will foster more paid open source software. Theoretically, the app store owner can protect the original creator from unwanted clones, and most users won't bother to find and compile the source code to avoid buying the $2 app.
I've not seen much evidence of this so far, but StormCloud, a weather applet available on Ubuntu and Chrome, is one example (more or less - I'm not sure that the "Don't be a dick public license" meets strict definitions of freedom).
- zugbo 13y agoHere's another example, then: A while ago I found https://github.com/gjtorikian/Earthbound-Battle-Backgrounds https://github.com/gjtorikian/Earthbound-Battle-Backgrounds which is an animated wallpaper app for Android. Between the dollar it costs on the store and the time it'd take to build it, I quickly chose to spend the money. But, if the choice had instead been between a $1 closed source version on the store or an open source manual compile, I think I would have taken the build/install option.
- gizmo686 13y agoApp stores may also allow you to leverage trademarks on your project. Even if someone were to upload a free (as in beer) version, you could still forbid them from using the same name. With the current format of app stores, it seems like this would be a much stronger advantage then similar trademark protections for desktop apps.