versions of the same software will not exist to compete on their hardware)

is the right choice.

For example, charging a ``convenience fee'' for Free Software,

when set at a reasonable price (around \$60 or so), can produce some

profit. Even though Red Hat's system is fully downloadable on their

Web site, people still go to local computer stores and buy copies of their

box set, which is simply a printed version of the manual (available under

a Free license as well) and the Free Software system it documents.

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are the most widely used models for GPL'd software. The GPL is

central to their success, because it ensures that the code base

remains common, and that large and small companies are on equal

footing for access to the technology. Consider, for example, the GNU

Compiler Collection (GCC). Cygnus Solutions, a company started in the

early 1990s, was able to grow steadily simply by providing services

for GCC --- mostly consisting of new ports of GCC to different or new,

embedded targets. Eventually, Cygnus was so successful that

it was purchased by Red Hat where it remains a profitable division.

However, there are very small companies that compete in

this space. Because the code-base is protected by the GPL, it creates and