What is the true value of open source?

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reworking success.

(Subject borrowed from a book by Robert Theobald)

When speaking to politicians about FLOSS, and the question of vendor revenue comes up, I explain it this way. Trying to evaluate the software marketplace through vendor revenue is like trying to evaluate a tax system only through government revenue. This falsely suggests that the "best" policy would be to "maximize" revenue.

For most of the economy software is an expense towards their actual value-add, and the best policy is one which maximizes the value-add of software while minimizing the expense (IE: provide maximum public good for minimal taxation).


I've only met with a few Canadian federal politicians thus far http://www.flora.ca/mp.shtml , but those who I have had a chance to talk about this with seem to get it quickly. They then understand that the analysis requires quite a bit more thought, and that 'maximizing revenue' is an inappropriate metric for success.


Wouldn't it be great if we could do to the tax system what the FLOSS sector has done for software? Being able to have open collaboration for the production of public goods, with active participation from all sectors of our economy, and without the need to ever collect royalties/taxes. If only it were possible for the more rivalrous services that governments are often called upon to provide.

Then again, there are still people who think that perpetually increasing taxes or buying proprietary software is somehow good for the economy.

Posted by: russell@...   Posted on: 07/10/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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