Commercial interest, DIY, opensource, etc

[matt h]

(deleted)

[xtian]

I'd also like to raise the question what, if anything, should we do about any of this? As a simple and innocuous move, would it be useful to require those with commercial interests in guitar amplifiers to provide the name of their companies (however big or small) in a signature?

That's a nice proposal. Even though it's part of TGP culture...

[matt h]

(deleted)

[cbass]

I don't think we need any new rules I just think we should be vigilant and uncourage the drive bys to stick around.
I

[Phil_S]

Each of us gets to choose the things we respond to. If something bothers me, or I'm not interested, I just move on. Anyone who has suspicions, I recommend you do the same.

[M Fowler]

The list of guys including myself building amps from Ampgarage threads is enormous. I don't enjoy commercial success like some.

You can see many companies selling amps that look like they followed an Amp Garage build thread, see it here first and then into production. But maybe they had the same idea years before, one never knows.

The number of non building players in the world wanting to buy an amp is far greater then builders, no way are we intruding on other's market place.

Mark

[mhartman]

You can see many companies selling amps that look like they followed an Amp Garage build thread, see it here first and then into production. But maybe they had the same idea years before, one never knows.

I'm pretty sure that that Dumble guy totally copied those layouts in the file section. Can't prove it though.

[ampgeek]

My assumption is that anything that one puts in print here automatically becomes public knowledge to be used in any way that the recipient sees fit...or..is allowed to by their own conscience.

From my perspective, the vast majority of those that do contribute do so willingly for their own satisfaction. Good karma, the brotherhood of sharing, countering insecurities etc..Call it what you will and for whatever reason, its what keeps us all coming back in our persuit of knowledge.

Part and parcel with that is that the same vast majority that do take something away feel an obligation to give back in any way that they can. And, by and large, they do!

That is the, sometimes tenuous, nature of the tendons and cartilage that hold it all together.

There will always be opportunists hoping/attempting to profit from what is learned here. That is just human nature that can't be changed. Trying to prevent them will only stretch and strain those connective tissues.

Fortunately, some of those that do attempt to profit will posses an adequate level of conscience that will lead them to give back.

Also fortunately, those with little or no conscience seem to show their colors pretty soon on and are run-off.

In the end, the those who actually do profit without giving back is a small and tolerable number IMHO.

As Mark says, there is probably enough "work" to go around for those .......and many more.

So...staying course as Cbass suggests pretty much sums up my feelings.

Dave O.

[vibratoking]

Probably no reason to change anything. Besides, I'm not aware of any change that will effectively 'fix' the problem. It could be reduced by requiring users to make an effort to join and/or maintain privileges before they can see or read the threads. Effectively, making joining an inconvenience to reduce the instant gratification types. This might reduce the number of drive-bys. The guys that take and build won't be stopped. Anybody with half a brain can become an 'expert' just by reading these forums.

[jestaudio]

Probably no reason to change anything. Besides, I'm not aware of any change that will effectively 'fix' the problem. It could be reduced by requiring users to make an effort to join and/or maintain privileges before they can see or read the threads. Effectively, making joining an inconvenience to reduce the instant gratification types. This might reduce the number of drive-bys. The guys that take and build won't be stopped. Anybody with half a brain can become an 'expert' just by reading these forums.

God knows what that makes my brain, I still have to ask despite reading loads

[Aurora]

The Internet has changed information flow dramatically. I've been on the net professionally since the very early 90s. I cannot see how imposing further limitations can stop the profiteurs, as the net by nature makes everything non-personal. Anyone can and will register under pseudonyms, anyway....
Although I still only read, and can contribute mostly on a level of general electronics, I still hope to solve other serious problems, so that I can start building something.....

[matt h]

(deleted)

[LeftyStrat]

People often cite 'The Tragedy of the Commons' in reference to the open source movement. I worked for what is probably the first successful open source company, Cygnus Solutions, who was eventually bought by Red Hat for close to seven hundred million. So it is possible to share and still make money.

The interesting thing about information, is that it is a resource that cannot be depleted. I can share information with one person, or a thousand, and it is not depleted.

There are those who see information as a way to make a buck, and I have no problem with them. To each his own, or as Jimi said "I'm the one that to die when it is time for me to die, so let me live my life the way I want to."

I prefer to go out with the satisfaction of having helped and empowered others, rather than clutching a few measly dollars. Honestly, what I have learned from this forum and my own experiments, is that a schematic and a layout is only the beginning. From there, it's what Kenny said, "Use your ears."

Information wants to be free. Plato, Aristotle, Jung, or Huxley never sold their insight. They are remembered. Nik will be easily be forgotten.

Within a year, I promise you that detailed gut shots of Nik's SSS will be shared on here.

[vibratoking]

...Within a year, I promise you that detailed gut shots of Nik's SSS will be shared on here.

Wait a minute, that already happened like 2 years ago.

[LeftyStrat]

...Within a year, I promise you that detailed gut shots of Nik's SSS will be shared on here.

Wait a minute, that already happened like 2 years ago.

I gave info on #2. The SSS sold by Nik is a later model with no cathode followers. Others can correct me, but his is based on 4 or 5.