It was a shortcut. I meant that companies typically release application source code when they feel they can no longer profit from it. Examples: Blender, Inkscap

It was a shortcut. I meant that companies typically release application source code when they feel they can no longer profit from it. Examples: Blender, Inkscape, SOffice, Fish Fillets(a really fun and unique puzzle game), Mozilla, DooM, Quake1,2,3, Hexen, 0 A.D (Exception: The GIMP). I wish I could say most of good open source games were developed as open source from the start, but it's not true. BSD folks have a point here when they talk about undercutting, but I don't think this is bad. ---------Offtopic Linux games don't have to be open source, but it's a development model I like for practical and ideological reasons. Open source, also GPL, is really the point of Linux. Otherwise why not just go with BSD ? Perhaps I wasn't so clear - I like open source development because in theory it has no restrictions on game design, as opposed to Hollywood style products. But in practice fear of unknown (I guess ?) prevents lots of open source innovation from happening. Copyright and monopoly originated not to make people profit, not because X deserves Y, but to get more stuff into public domain. You know Gutenberg we praise so much tried to destroy his printing press and keep the secret to himself ? Yet the industrial revolution only started once James Watt's patents expired and he could no longer innovators with lawsuits. Open source is great for maintenance - I wish companies realized that ! Look at dosbox, wine, various old games. They think they gain a competitive advantage by keeping their infrastructure secret, but how much do they spend in maintenance costs ?