Comments on: Software Firms Will Also Move to the Center in 2008 http://gigaom.com/2008/01/03/software-firms-will-also-move-to-the-center-in-2008/ Tracking the Internet Evolution Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:40:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Bummer Han http://gigaom.com/2008/01/03/software-firms-will-also-move-to-the-center-in-2008/#comment-848215 Bummer Han Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:42:59 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2008/01/03/software-firms-will-also-move-to-the-center-in-2008/#comment-848215 <p>there are varying degrees of "open source"-ness</p> <p>a) Open to the core projects like GNU, Apache HTTP server are utterly open, truly and dedicated user community contributing to software development. A dying breed, sometimes hobby-like.</p> <p>b) Open but vested I like to call this source-available, usually under viral licence like GPL, users get variable say where the software is headed, often under-documented and under-supported, and the core developers usually work at 1 or 2 consultancies that benefit directly from the software.</p> <p>This is where good hybrid models usually arise and I do think is generally a viable model.</p> <p>c) Pseudo-open Uses its own written or modified license, even Sun & Microsoft struggled with these for a fair while. Oft community is not active, rather than poring through the legalese, a quick web search will find you better projects to sink your teeth into in the above 2 models.</p> <p>all time, lets not forget intellectual property costs money and time to create, it should be treated no different, no less from developing a physical product.</p> there are varying degrees of “open source”-ness

a) Open to the core
projects like GNU, Apache HTTP server are utterly open, truly and dedicated user community contributing to software development. A dying breed, sometimes hobby-like.

b) Open but vested
I like to call this source-available, usually under viral licence like GPL, users get variable say where the software is headed, often under-documented and under-supported, and the core developers usually work at 1 or 2 consultancies that benefit directly from the software.

This is where good hybrid models usually arise and I do think is generally a viable model.

c) Pseudo-open
Uses its own written or modified license, even Sun & Microsoft struggled with these for a fair while. Oft community is not active, rather than poring through the legalese, a quick web search will find you better projects to sink your teeth into in the above 2 models.

all time, lets not forget intellectual property costs money and time to create, it should be treated no different, no less from developing a physical product.

]]> By: D.C. Parris http://gigaom.com/2008/01/03/software-firms-will-also-move-to-the-center-in-2008/#comment-842470 D.C. Parris Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:50:31 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2008/01/03/software-firms-will-also-move-to-the-center-in-2008/#comment-842470 <p>Anne,</p> <p>you failed to demonstrate that any companies are moving from the open toward the closed. Here is my take: http://blue-gnu.biz/content/will_software_businesses_really_move_toward_middle_039_08</p> <p>Cheers, Don</p> Anne,

you failed to demonstrate that any companies are moving from the open toward the closed. Here is my take:
http://blue-gnu.biz/content/will_software_businesses_really_move_toward_middle_039_08

Cheers,
Don

]]> By: Aman Sehgal http://gigaom.com/2008/01/03/software-firms-will-also-move-to-the-center-in-2008/#comment-828646 Aman Sehgal Sat, 05 Jan 2008 06:41:37 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2008/01/03/software-firms-will-also-move-to-the-center-in-2008/#comment-828646 <p>Hi Anne,</p> <p>You have correctly pointed out that success of software companies now depends on the way they club their proprietary software with open source. Few companies already have their business model based on this strategy.</p> <p>One can take example of Linux that belongs to open source, comes in various flavors and there are vendors who have modified it according to market needs and have build their business model by combining Open Source with their proprietary innovation so as to earn profit and serve their customers.</p> Hi Anne,

You have correctly pointed out that success of software companies now depends on the way they club their proprietary software with open source. Few companies already have their business model based on this strategy.

One can take example of Linux that belongs to open source, comes in various flavors and there are vendors who have modified it according to market needs and have build their business model by combining Open Source with their proprietary innovation so as to earn profit and serve their customers.

]]> By: Jeffrey http://gigaom.com/2008/01/03/software-firms-will-also-move-to-the-center-in-2008/#comment-825359 Jeffrey Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:29:43 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2008/01/03/software-firms-will-also-move-to-the-center-in-2008/#comment-825359 <p>"Clopen"? Nah. How about "fake open"?</p> <p>http://mcmanus.typepad.com/grind/2007/12/static-on-the-d.html</p> “Clopen”? Nah. How about “fake open”?

http://mcmanus.typepad.com/grind/2007/12/static-on-the-d.html

]]> By: Rick http://gigaom.com/2008/01/03/software-firms-will-also-move-to-the-center-in-2008/#comment-825189 Rick Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:45:21 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2008/01/03/software-firms-will-also-move-to-the-center-in-2008/#comment-825189 <p>Excellent article and I agree with the very premise of combining the best of both worlds. Open source provides the central commonality to share core software for the least expense among all parties. Closed enables the freedom of economic adventure and capitalism needed to differentiate services and products and generate well-deserving profits. Great article!</p> Excellent article and I agree with the very premise of combining the best of both worlds. Open source provides the central commonality to share core software for the least expense among all parties. Closed enables the freedom of economic adventure and capitalism needed to differentiate services and products and generate well-deserving profits. Great article!

]]> By: arjun http://gigaom.com/2008/01/03/software-firms-will-also-move-to-the-center-in-2008/#comment-825010 arjun Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:59:01 +0000 http://gigaom.com/2008/01/03/software-firms-will-also-move-to-the-center-in-2008/#comment-825010 <p>The hybrid strategy is not easy to make work and I think is a fad. As an example see Real Networks' efforts ~4 years ago with the Helix platform.</p> <p>I think hybrid strategies often seek to exploit open source developers yet reap the benefits of license software while appearing as the "good guy" who supports open source. Sometimes, this hybrid strategy is an extension of an SDK effort that was failing to gather developer support.</p> <p>If open source is offered more for the public to debug their own programs and better understand security details of the software that's fine and appropriate in some cases. But otherwise it's not clear when the hybrid strategy is appropriate.</p> The hybrid strategy is not easy to make work and I think is a fad. As an example see Real Networks’ efforts ~4 years ago with the Helix platform.

I think hybrid strategies often seek to exploit open source developers yet reap the benefits of license software while appearing as the “good guy” who supports open source. Sometimes, this hybrid strategy is an extension of an SDK effort that was failing to gather developer support.

If open source is offered more for the public to debug their own programs and better understand security details of the software that’s fine and appropriate in some cases. But otherwise it’s not clear when the hybrid strategy is appropriate.

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