RE: [flasher] Re: Macromedia thinks there GOD

[Phillip Kerman]

Why I feel that I have to defend them... I don't know.  But I think the crux

of the issue is a little misunderstanding.  Ultimately, I suppose it's

possible for MM to give away full-retail (not NFR) copies when they do a

give-away--but they don't.


For MM to give away an NFR costs them ONLY the cost of materials.  Sure, you

could argue there's an opportunity cost (in that the receiver will not go

buy a copy that they might otherwise had).  But if MM gave out a full-retail

copy they'd have consider that the same way as a real sale.  That is--pay

taxes on it as if they really sold it.


Maybe you donate some of your time at a local high school.  If at the end of

the year you've donated 50 hours and you normally charge $100/hour do you

want to pay taxes on this as if you made $5000 (that you really didn't)?  Of

course not.


I think my analogy is not entirely accurate, but the bottom line is that

when you get something "free" you're kind of stuck with what ever it is that

you've been given.  I'm sure it's not that MM REALLY cares what you do with

this software--rather, they can't give it out as "Not for resale" if you end

up selling it.  Who would pay sales tax on it?  They sure don't--and as such

they can't give away something that gets resold without being responsible

for the taxes.


I think the suggestion to sell your original copy was a great one.


Phillip


P.S.  They're = they are