After some posts back and forth between Susan and me I put the *ware
status of FreePdfXP to the group:
License:
(Copied from accompanied FreePdfen.pdf; the same can be found in German
on
http://freepdfxp.de/fpxplizenz.htm)
| FreePDF XP license
| · FreePDF XP is a Freeware (also for companies).
| · the author is not responsible for possibly Damage, which is caused
| by a use of FreePDF.
| · the author does his best to release virus-free Software. The author is
| not responsible however for damage, through possibly Virus infections.
| · for the software there is no email support for free.
| · you receive support to FreePDF XP in the manual and under
|
http://shbox.de/english.htm.
| · label names used in the software are own of there owners.
| · FreePDF XP may not be sold. On booklet CD's of magazines FreePDF XP
| can be delivered.
| · The Program Redmon is licensed by the Aladdin Free Public License
| · author of FreePDF XP is Stefan Heinz
The email support restriction is explained right thereafter:
| In the past i have had a large amount of emails asking questions,
| that already has been written in the Manual. Therefore, if you like
| to get email support from me, i will like to get a donate within the
| range of 10 Euro/US$.
Further explanation is given in the About dialog inside the program:
| FreePDF XP is freeware for private and non-private use (see license).
|
| Author of FreePDF XP is Stefan Heinz.
|
| Because of my limited time, I do not give email support for FreePDF XP.
| Instead, I have made the following free resources available:
|
| - The FreePDF XP Users Manual (see menu '?')
| - The FreePDF Administrators Manual at
http://shbox.de/FreePDFXPAdmin.pdf
| - The (German) homepage of FreePDF
http://shbox.de - any english-speaking
| Page for FreePDF is welcome!
|
| If you would like to email me for support, please send a donation
| within the range of 10 EUR/USD.
Some explanations given in German (on the homepage) are even more
explicit (
http://freepdfxp.de/fpxplizenz.htm again - Stefan Heinz
isn't too skilled translating his sentiments into English):
| In der Vergangenheit habe ich mehr Zeit mit dem beantworten von Emails
| als mit Programmieren zugebracht. Häufig werden mir dabei Fragen
| gestellt, die schon in der FAQ bzw dem Handbuch beantwortet sind.
|
| Wenn Sie dennoch per Email Hilfe von mir erwarten, werde ich Sie um eine
| Spende in der Größenordnung von 10 Euro / US$ bitten. Das schließt
| freilich nicht ein, dass ich Ihr Problem auch lösen kann bzw. eine
| gewünschte Änderung tatsächlich einbaue.
English translation:
|E> In the past I spent more time answering emails than programming.
|E> Continually, questions have been asked which are already answered
|E> inside the FAQ and the manual.
|E>
|E> If you nevertheless expect help per email from me, then I shall
|E> ask you for a donation of about 10 ¤ / US$. That doesn't ensure
|E> the result of a solution for your problem or the implemantation
|E> of your desired changes, though.
The 'quarrel' which arose between Susan and me is the status of
FreePdfXP - Freeware or Donationware.
In my opinion, the program is freeware:
- No request for donation *regarding the program* can be found
- He even offers free support for the program (FAQ, manual, and a
free Web Forum, where he can pick the difficult questions to
answer, while the others are dealt by the community - or left
alone if stupid enough)
- Exceeding this, he did free email support for some time; you read
about the results above...
- He decided, there was need for a stopper to that flood. He could
have discontinued answering emails at all.
*** The program would still count as freeware for Susan...
- But no. He decided to just create a hurdle. High enough to repel
SPAM-like nuisances, but low enough for those thinking the free
support paths either beyond their selves or needing 'professional'
support certification (e.g. companies)
- It seems obvious to me that Stefan couldn't care less about the amount
of money dripping in on his PayPal account. He just enjoys a bit more
free time for the development of the program or real life. Maybe
I'm wrong on this. But *not* telling people that a donation for
the program would be welcome is surely *not* a method getting rich...
*** The presence of the donation link makes it Donationware to Susan...
.... although the purpose of the link is explicitly explained as
'for email support'. Something, which has - IMHO - *nothing* to
do with the program itself.
Opinions?
BeAr
