We have also recently discussed OS X and it's GUI. It is one of the biggest advantages that Apple has right now over Windows and Linux. If the GUI was open-sourced, what incentive would there be for people to buy/use OS X over Linux? While many people have said "I don't want to use software that is not free(libre)" and have hinted or outright said that Apple should open-source more of their OS, I would say that there is no good reason for Apple to give up one of their biggest advantages.
I think that Open source software definitely has it's place. But I also think that commercial software (be it libre or non-libre) has it's place as well. If I had a killer app that had the potential to make me a lot of money, I have to say that I would probably sell it, and I wouldn't be handing out my source code to every Tom, Dick, and Harry. Everyone wants to have some measure of success, and be able to live life on their terms. People may seek money for different reasons, but in the end each person needs to provide for their family, and if selling software and not opening the source code will feed my family, then that is exactly what I will do.
On the other hand, I am very grateful that open source software exists. I use OSS every day of my life, and my computing experience would be much poorer if I did not have access to it. There are definitely things that I think should be open, always and forever. Core internet protocols are one example. And there are many others. It just isn't as clear cut an issue as RMS and many other people make it out to be.
I guess what I am saying is that it all comes down to freedom (libre). In our society, we have the freedom to write code and distribute it in whatever manner we see fit. I personally happen to think that blending open and closed source software is both acceptable and beneficial. I respect other's right to disagree with that statement. I think we should also be careful in throwing around statements like "all closed source software is bad" and making judgments about what companies should do with the software they have written. Become the CEO of Apple or Sun or IBM, realize you have millions of shareholders and employees who are weighing your decisions, and who are ready to send your stock and market share plummeting if they disagree, and it becomes a much more complicated issue than "open source is good, and closed source is bad". I know RMS would not agree with me. Do you?
Grant Robinson
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