There were a firestorm of comments in the chat room during the show and on other sites after the show was aired. Below is my comment on those comments.
I’d like to weigh in a bit more here than I did on the show. I have a perspective that most here do not have. Before flaming me, please read the whole post.
I am a software user who has bought and … err … not bought a lot of software in the past. I am also a software developer who makes a living from spending way too many hours in front of the computer writing code until the words blur together so that I can feed my family.
I totally understand the sentiment that over priced software digs it’s own grave and feeds software piracy. In those cases, I am most sympathetic of the consumer.
On the other hand, I understand that I am not entitled to the free labor of others. I can’t demand that my neighbor comes over and shovels my sidewalk for free; how can I demand that he spends 20 hours writing code for me for free? It just doesn’t make sense.
I often see the argument that we pay $$$ for our equipment and $$$ for our Internet, we should have to pay any money for our software. This would totally make sense if all of these things came from the same company or individual. They don’t.
Apple made your iPhone. They get the hardware dollars. AT&T is providing your Internet. They get those dollars. Thousands of independent developers all over the world are making your apps. They deserve the money that they earn from that (in most cases).
I saw the argument that Apple should simply pay the developers and then let the apps go freely. Really? If you think that the applications are limited right now, imagine for a minute how limited and few the apps would be under that scenario!.
Some developers charge way too much money for some really crappy apps. This, I think, is the app developers worst enemy and where I can give some points to the software pirates.
If a developer CHARGES for an app that does nothing but farts, I have very little sympathy for the piracy of their app. The same goes for the count down apps that are going for almost $5.
Developers, for whatever reason, are still refusing to make time limited trial version of their apps. This is another valid point for the app crackers. It’s unreasonable to demand that someone pay for your app without being able to verify that each and every feature works as advertised. I’ve already been burned by a number of apps that were nothing less than scams in my opinion.
So, here the bottom line on what I believe. If you’re a software author, it is your duty to:
* offer a fully functional trial of your software for free.
* Charge an *appropriate* price for your software
* provide service and support for your product
If you’re a software author, you have the RIGHT to:
* make a living from your profession
* Innovate freely without SDK or other arbitrary restrictions
* actively pursue anyone who infringes upon those rights as long as you abide by your duties.
As consumers, we have have the economic responsibility to:
* purchase any software that we use bast a reasonable trial period
* be vocal about over priced and inferior products in the public arena (comments and ratings)
* donate funds to freeware software authors if we like their work or services
As consumers, we have the RIGHT to:
* a full refund if the software does not work as advertised or is too buggy to be of use
* a fully functional trial version of any software that requires a licensing fee
* not be charged inflated pricing for software based upon demand rather than the functionality
If a software author doesn’t follow through upon their responsibilities, they have no right to complain if consumers crack their apps to enforce their rights.
Now, the question is … Did Christopher fulfill his obligations as a software developer?
