Where value lies in open source

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Software as a profit not working in long run???

As much as I love and use open source software, Microsoft has proven that selling licenses to USE the software is a winnable long run solution. Their very existence is absolute proof.

I read your article with the context of someone that did NOT create the open source software, but instead downloaded it and became familiar with it. All of your profit reasons apply to me too, so the question is, why would I spend R&D dollars and time CREATING open source, when I can just download and learn someone elses?

The question is: Where is the profit in CREATING open source software that DOESN'T exist for someone that downloads it and becomes familiar with it?

I can come up with plenty of scenario-specific reasons where it would make sense (maybe some sense), but as a general rule... that can apply pretty much across the board, where's the profit in spending your OWN R&D resources to CREATE it in the first place if you can't sell licenses to use it?

Don't get me wrong... like I said, I love and use open source software and I'm glad there are people willing to devote their own, personal time to it and I'm glad some companies are spending their own R&D resources for it. It helps me out tremendously, but I often wonder, how does it help them? But the bigger question is, if everyone that writes software were to make it open source and not sell licenses to use it, how is it profitable to spend the R&D on it in the first place if, after you've expended your own treasure, everyone else, given much less effort on THEIR part, can be on the same playing field as you WITH YOUR OWN SOFTWARE???

Posted by: Digital Video Expert   Posted on: 11/24/08 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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