I mentioned in an old post how books can be created under a license that allows more people to have access to them. The point is not having authors working by free, but paying them just once. Also, I was thinking on books that are used every year to teach the same courses in a school or college (algebra, biology, etc.). Those books can be periodically review, and since a big organization already paid for their development they will be free (as in freedom and as in beer). It makes sense because I bought the same book I used to learn how to read (almost thirty years ago) and the publisher is still making money out of it, and the book has exactly the same content (it was nice to see again those pictures and remember).
Now, don’t stop with books. For example, medicine and pharmaceutical research is funded in part by government’s money, but governments do not own any patents. Developments in energy and oil industry are done using governmental grants and funds, but the final products are sold as new “proprietary” technology. Of course the government of the country that developed the new technology sees some return if the product is a world success, but even their own citizens (whose money help to develop the technology) has to pay full price for it.
I understand that not all products can be developed in this way. But citizens (by the use of governments’ money) are helping to develop products that are going to benefit mainly the company that has the patent. I know that everybody is going to be able to benefit from the new technology, but only when you can pay for it!
The role of the government is to contribute in the development of new technology, but having taking into account all their citizens. Helping technologies that are going to be close behind a patent (which sometimes only obstruct new developments) is not a good policy.
Tags: #ukgovOSS
