May 15, 2004

Take two

Snappiest trackback title to date:
600 Trackbacks Later, Six Apart Backtracks
(trackback on today's announcement)

I still haven't received any emails, though I've seen posts from people who have, and what they got seems to be the same content as what was posted on the beta blog last night, which is mainly a new licensing structure for personal blogs, 6A's refined definition of what they consider to be blog, and a discount for beta testers.

Someone points out what I've been thinking in response to the yay-sayers' numerous exhortations that this is a developer release and non-devs need to put up, shut up, and stay the hell out of it until the feature release is made available for the moronic masses: "developer releases aren't usually presented on the home page." Jay Allen responds by saying that "Apple already had an established developer network."

Forgive me, but I was under the impression that MT already had a rather large, established group of developers available.

(Incidentally, have spotted reference on MT site to MT-Plugins.org as "our developer plug-ins site" (emphasis added) and noting 6A's official support, and am wondering what is up with that, since I can't find any explanation or announcment of this on 6A or MT-Plugins, except for something about a redesign of MT-Plugins. I'm thinking grab 'em before they implement a per-plug-in, per blog charge, kids.)

(I'm also wondering about this: In addition there will be a Member-only Knowledge Database that will be a central location for all online support resources. A Member-only Forum will be added in the near future.)

Have also had thoughts about 6A's definition of "user." A very basic take on the definition, based on my understanding and experience, which is far from complete :

In general, a user is one computer and/or one person.

If I have a one-user license for an application, I can install that application on my own computer, for my own use.

In most cases, I may allow someone else to sit at my computer and use that application.

Under some licenses, if I have two computers I switch between, I can install it on both with a single license, provided I'm only using the application on one computer at a time; if I want to install the application on a second computer to allow someone else to use it at the same time, I need to purchase a second user license.

There are no limitations to my personal usage of the application; I can use it 24 hours a day. With a Photoshop license, you can to create and modify as many images as is humanly possible, without incurring additional fees. Eudora doesn't cap the number of e-mails a single user can send and receive. A single FrontPage license allows you to build and publish as many godawful sites as you'd like.

What really bothers me about MT3's personal licensing structure -- I don't have a problem with the corporate licensing pricing except that it's not affordable for the majority of my clients, particularly the non-profits -- is that it redefines the standard and essentially penalizes you for creating additional documents. A base charge is fine, additional user charges are fine, but limitations on what I, personally, may do with the application are not.

Warning addendum 040516: There's a stanknasty slandering poser running around. Watch out.

Posted by gwen at May 15, 2004 01:50 PM | TrackBack
Comments

I don't have a problem with the corporate licensing pricing except that it's not affordable for the majority of my clients, particularly the non-profits -- is that it redefines the standard and essentially penalizes you for creating additional documents.

We have substantial non-profit discounts available, just contact us. And you can create as many posts/documents as you want on any blog, which might be a better analogy to documents in Photoshop. However, you can have 5 people use the lowest-end license of Movable Type, and there's no version of Photoshop that lets 5 people use it, to extend the analogy.

Posted by: Anil at May 15, 2004 09:37 PM

I don't think 6A has to look after cheap assholes who don't like to pay. 6A and many plugin developers like me were giving away everything for free for years, a little appreciation is all we ask.

Posted by: who's the asshole now, huh? at May 16, 2004 04:11 PM

I agree completely; 6A and every other person who gives their time to further the usefulness of this amazing application deserves some serious appreciation. That's why:

1. I asked on the previous post about the contest:
"Do any of the plugin developers besides the top six [contest winners] get a cut? 'By entering the contest, the entrants...grants Six Apart and its authorized agents the right to reprint, display, reproduce, perform or exhibit the entry without limitation and without any further compensation.'"

That's great for the six people who win, but under those terms, if you write an amazing plugin that comes in seventh, 6A can take your work and product, use it to add to their profit, and not give you a dime. I don't believe they'd do anything that shady -- they seem like nice, ethical folk -- but the point is that under that wording, they can.

2. I ask in this post what's going with 6A in relation to MT-Plugins.org. What does "officially support" mean? Does 6A own it now?
If so, will it be moved to a paid model?
Are developers -- those who've already freely created and distributed the plugins that have contributed significantly to 6A's popularity, those who do in the future -- who aren't on the 6A payroll going to be compensated?
What about the forum?
Is the wealth of knowledge in the existing forum going to be removed to the Members-Only Knowledge Database and Forum when those are launched?
Is membership included with a paid license?
Is it separate?
If it is, will it be structured so contributors get a cut?

None of this affects me on a personal level; I don't write plugins, about the only thing I contribute to the forums is a slew of dumb questions, and I'm not looking for an hour-long commute.

But as a prospective buyer, it matters to me; since 6A brought up these issues, inadvertently or not, I want to know whether my money's being passed around equitably and that the people who would like more than a hearty thank-you for their contributions are going to receive just that.

As far as being a cheap: you're right, I am. I read the fine print. I look for the best deal. If it's a one-of-a-kind essential something (as I consider MT, and you're right there, too, I'm probably going to wait on the non-dev release), I'll figure out a way stretch my budget.

As far as I'm concerned, it's entirely *your* prerogative as to whether you want to demand some cold, hard "appreciation" or not before I can use your product. I certainly wouldn't begrudge your desire to make buck off your hard work.

But if you're giving it away, I'm certainly not going to stand in your way. I appreciate the hell out of you for it, but I have a million other bills that I *have* to pay (I won't even mention the pesky dependent who thinks cash shoots out of my forefinger) before I can start to think about making good on my very honorable intentions of spreading around some donated-through-Paypal goodwill.

If that makes me an asshole on top of being cheap, well...I'm an asshole.

Posted by: Gwen at May 16, 2004 07:18 PM

Me too. :)

Posted by: eric at May 16, 2004 09:18 PM