The debate whether open source is a viable business model is a stupid preoccupation, to say the least.
Almost everyone, including this McVoy guy has heard and used free software. The thing almost everyone missed is the foundation why there is free software. Free software was not created initially for business, there was no concept of business model when these softwares were conceived. Free software or open source software was created to be used and improved for educational and utilitarian purposes. Free and open source software was designed by a community, for the community's technological nourishment. Can Linux Torvalds ever create what we know as Linux now if FSF/GNU Project did not have the resilience and perseverance to keep going despite all the odds? FSF/GNU Project started in the 80s and through the 90s, the height of proprietary software domination. When business people saw that free or open source software can compete with proprietary software, business-minded as they are, started looking for profitable aspects on the free, open source territory. This "issue" of business model in free, open source software is a question of ethics. When business-minded, or should I say profit-oriented entities get their hands into free, open source software, do they want to contribute back to the community? Or do they want to keep what they find to themselves for profit or marketing advantage? More than the question of "business model" in free, open source software, it's a question whether you're committed to the community that nourished you or think more of profit at the first instance of opportunity. On 6/19/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > IMHO, it's not heresy, it's ignorance of the true essense of open source. > Again, the confusion between free beer and free speech. "McVoy understands > open source as well as anyone on the planet."?? I'll dispute that. Forbes > doesn't know squat about open source either but I don't think we can really > fault them. > > Mabuhay. > > Original Message: > ----------------- > From: Elmer Rivera [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2005 23:14:14 +0800 > > [link]http://www.forbes.com/technology/2005/05/26/cz_dl_0526linux.html[link] > [url]http://www.forbes.com/technology/2005/05/26/cz_dl_0526linux.html[url] > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > mail2web - Check your email from the web at > http://mail2web.com/ . > > > _________________________________________________ > Philippine Linux Users' Group (PLUG) Mailing List > [email protected] (#PLUG @ irc.free.net.ph) > Read the Guidelines: http://linux.org.ph/lists > Searchable Archives: http://archives.free.net.ph > -- Tito Mari Francis H. Escaño Computer Engineer and GNU/Linux Proponent _________________________________________________ Philippine Linux Users' Group (PLUG) Mailing List [email protected] (#PLUG @ irc.free.net.ph) Read the Guidelines: http://linux.org.ph/lists Searchable Archives: http://archives.free.net.ph
