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The problem is that open source is given away for free, and companies are exploiting that. It's estimated that open source was worth at least $143M of Instagram
by jrpt 10y ago
The problem is that open source is given away for free, and companies are exploiting that. It's estimated that open source was worth at least $143M of Instagram's $1B acquisition. But the open source developers got nothing.
The solution as I see it is Supported Source (https://supportedsource.org/ https://supportedsource.org/)
- nickpsecurity 10y agoThe estimate on Linux was at least a billion. That's what IBM alone was willing to commit to defending it against Microsoft/SCO suits if I interpreted the reporting correctly. I'd love to see how much money people saved on IIS, etc. thanks to Apache deployments. We'd first need to know what percentage would've paid for a server in the first place as many will only set up if it's free. Then, convert that to even half IIS + Windows Server licensing I bet it's a fortune.
- pjmlp 10y agoI bet many of them would just go back to pirating stuff. This is what FOSS actually made in the last decade, moved many that would never pay for software from pirating it to just downloading whatever they can find in open source repositories. But the developers still don't get anything back.
- nickpsecurity 10y agoI didnt think about that. Good point. Counter would be BSA. They tip employees to reveal stuff like that. They could visit each Global 2000 to pay employees for info on what software was used and how often. Plus network fingerprinting. Just collecting first years fees as payment would cover cost of BSA and payouts.
- pjmlp 10y agoThat would only work in countries where organizations like BSA do exist and are actually effective. Which isn't the case in many countries.
- nickpsecurity 10y agoAnother good point. I might have to think further on it.