FreeCAD Being Sold for Profit by Microsoft?

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user1234
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Re: FreeCAD Being Sold for Profit by Microsoft?

Post by user1234 »

As it appeared this here, i tried to find the sourcecode at least one of them. I only found one address to the sourcecode, but the address was empty. So in that case it it clearly a license violation (if the sourcecode is not published).

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weebee13
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Re: FreeCAD Being Sold for Profit by Microsoft?

Post by weebee13 »

Microsoft is not the only one who did this. I saw that Conrad in Germany also sells FreeCAD for 15,99 Euro's, but also many on other selling platforms
all over the world. Mostly for Windoz.

What I understand from this is (I might be wrong):

1) it is legal to redistribute a product as long the license are clear to the end user.
2) it is legal to change the code and sell the end product as long the "changed code" is open.
3) it is legal to add your own code to the product and sell it. Your code could be closed source.
4) it is legal to build an expertice around the product and sell your expertice as consultancy work or writting books about it.

What I see from this development is:

1) confusing effect for the end users. Is it free or not? Where to get the free version? Publicity?
2) Is it a CheapCAD (<20 USD)? Then it must be bad. It is not of course, we know that. Image get hurts.
3) Someone selling it for 3000 USD, then "oh they are actually making a lot of money those FOSS developer" or
"Do we get any of those 3000 USD for our hardwork?"
4) A big software house or big CAD reseller house "B" thinks "hey it gain a lot of hobby user, maybe I can make money or get rid my competitor" buys the ownership FreeCAD license (I am not sure if it is possible or not). Modify it totaly and rebadge as their own, closed. Other left with a forked version.

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yorik
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Re: FreeCAD Being Sold for Profit by Microsoft?

Post by yorik »

weebee13 wrote: Wed Nov 17, 2021 12:02 am 4) A big software house or big CAD reseller house "B" thinks "hey it gain a lot of hobby user, maybe I can make money or get rid my competitor" buys the ownership FreeCAD license (I am not sure if it is possible or not). Modify it totaly and rebadge as their own, closed. Other left with a forked version.
These are all indeed valid points, except the last one ("buying" the copyright over FreeCAD is almost impossible, there are about 200 copyright owners. Someone who wants to own FreeCAD should go one by one and make them sell their rights. I promise I won't sell mine ever ;) ).

But indeed these things harm FreeCAD. As you say, people get the wrong idea about the project. Maybe one interesting thing to do would be to set up an official "response" (for ex a page on the wiki), where people can see what to do and help, for ex. where to look, where to report, etc...
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Re: FreeCAD Being Sold for Profit by Microsoft?

Post by weebee13 »

yorik wrote: Wed Nov 17, 2021 10:33 am
weebee13 wrote: Wed Nov 17, 2021 12:02 am 4) A big software house or big CAD reseller house "B" thinks "hey it gain a lot of hobby user, maybe I can make money or get rid my competitor" buys the ownership FreeCAD license (I am not sure if it is possible or not). Modify it totaly and rebadge as their own, closed. Other left with a forked version.
These are all indeed valid points, except the last one ("buying" the copyright over FreeCAD is almost impossible, there are about 200 copyright owners. Someone who wants to own FreeCAD should go one by one and make them sell their rights. I promise I won't sell mine ever ;) ).

But indeed these things harm FreeCAD. As you say, people get the wrong idea about the project. Maybe one interesting thing to do would be to set up an official "response" (for ex a page on the wiki), where people can see what to do and help, for ex. where to look, where to report, etc...
Well if that is the case then it will be difficult to bribe 200 owner. :-D


What FreeCAD needs is more PR and Marketing work. Show what FreeCAD is and capable off and who drives behind the scene. Start collecting valuable works from all members here to show to the world. A glossy artistic brochure is a start. I did it for my own workbench already..
Btw what is the goal of FreeCAD?
"Stop whining, get up and help yourself"
"Hör auf zu jammern, steh auf und hilf dir selbst"
"Stop met zeuren, sta op en help jezelf"

Progress videos of the WB:
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCFRTPtm92UMXGfh__jsA3dg
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-alex-
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Re: FreeCAD Being Sold for Profit by Microsoft?

Post by -alex- »

weebee13 wrote: Wed Nov 17, 2021 11:19 am Btw what is the goal of FreeCAD?
Sharing of tools and skills?

IMO, some big compagnies can try to make money during a while, but that's not a good plan at long term.
How their customers will feel when they will discover they had to pay to get a free and open source software?
I guess they will stop cheriching MS store and co...
For sure they will understand someday, because the documentation and forum web adress is www.freecad.org , but not MS.com n co
Last edited by -alex- on Thu Nov 18, 2021 6:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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adrianinsaval
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Re: FreeCAD Being Sold for Profit by Microsoft?

Post by adrianinsaval »

Again, this is not MS selling it, they are an intermediary they obviously get a cut but they are not the ones creating these releases. I don't like them but they probably have very little impact overall, is not many people that actually use the MS Store as it horrendous.
weebee13 wrote: Wed Nov 17, 2021 11:19 am What FreeCAD needs is more PR and Marketing work. Show what FreeCAD is and capable off and who drives behind the scene. Start collecting valuable works from all members here to show to the world. A glossy artistic brochure is a start.
Probably, but who's going to do it? FreeCAD doesn't have a marketing department, just a small team of volunteer developers.
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Re: FreeCAD Being Sold for Profit by Microsoft?

Post by -alex- »

adrianinsaval wrote: Wed Nov 17, 2021 12:54 pm Again, this is not MS selling it, they are an intermediary they obviously get a cut but they are not the ones creating these releases.
Sure, but they are retaillers, it's similar to sell. They earn money and fame.
If I were them I would check and manage my store more carrfully, since their brand is concerned.
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Re: FreeCAD Being Sold for Profit by Microsoft?

Post by freedman »

Two questions;
1) has FreeCAD been designed to support industry?
2) Is the forum here to support industry?

I feel the forum wanting to support the indivdual because FreeCAD has been designed/built by individuals. I don't feel the forum wanting to support companies in making money.

The main industries for 3D CAD, manufacturing support, engineering, science, education, all companies.
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Re: FreeCAD Being Sold for Profit by Microsoft?

Post by thschrader »

weebee13 wrote: Wed Nov 17, 2021 11:19 am ...
Btw what is the goal of FreeCAD?
To establish FC as a industry capable CAD software.
Guess what? It works... :)
https://www.opensim.co.za/training.html
https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic. ... =frontistr
https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic. ... 1&start=50
https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=42624
and a lot more.
I use FC for steel construction + FEM in a big company.
Cant wait to see your wb :mrgreen:

A brochure is a good idea. Maybe as pdf-download from FC website.
If MS wants to resell FC, fine, go ahead. A completely idiotic idea...
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Re: FreeCAD Being Sold for Profit by Microsoft?

Post by weebee13 »

thschrader wrote: Thu Nov 18, 2021 5:33 pm
weebee13 wrote: Wed Nov 17, 2021 11:19 am ...
Btw what is the goal of FreeCAD?
To establish FC as a industry capable CAD software.
Guess what? It works... :)
https://www.opensim.co.za/training.html
https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic. ... =frontistr
https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic. ... 1&start=50
https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=42624
and a lot more.
I use FC for steel construction + FEM in a big company.
Cant wait to see your wb :mrgreen:

A brochure is a good idea. Maybe as pdf-download from FC website.
If MS wants to resell FC, fine, go ahead. A completely idiotic idea...
"To establish FC as a industry capable CAD software"


is this an official statement of the FC community? I know that @Yorik did a hard work to bring FC with BIM to that level. I know that with FC FEM modules, FC had already surpassed mid CAD range package. For each license to run an analysis parallel we have to pay, if we use proprietary software. I used FC and Code Aster to do analysis for a big industry.
Linux is used in many industries and Linux was also a community effort. I read many german states also move to FOSS. So it is not that for example, that I sit down in my spare time develop some code only to full fill my hobby. I do have some goals in my mind, first a personal one then second to that a professional one. That is why my joke in another post: "nobody engineer a ship at home", because the tool I used, or a similar one was used for many years to build megayacht, navalships and civil ships. I know where my tool limitation are, but I also know the strength which FOSS CAE can offer and I use that to reach the goal. Maybe my tool would not be used for production but it can surely be used for preparing ship analysis.

A FC response page could be establish at FreeCAD.org, is where people will first go if they try to find about FC. People do not go to the Wiki for that.

MS want the mass, not software. Software is just a tool to gain mass and that means in the long term money and power.
"Stop whining, get up and help yourself"
"Hör auf zu jammern, steh auf und hilf dir selbst"
"Stop met zeuren, sta op en help jezelf"

Progress videos of the WB:
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCFRTPtm92UMXGfh__jsA3dg
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