[AktiviX] The Economics of Open Source Software - Prospects, Pitfalls and Politics [tbm at cyrius.com]

[Josh Robinson]

sounds about right to me - i'm tempted to go along, but i -really- ought
to get an essay done by five this afternoon. decisions, decisions...

j
-- 
Please don't cc me: i'm subscribed

On Thu, 2004-01-15 at 09:43, Drew wrote:
> On 14 Jan 2004 at 23:21, Alan Dawson wrote:
> 
> > Recd from another mailing list 
> >  
> > The argument seems to lead to its final clause "promotion of open-source 
> > software cannot be an economically justifiable role for the state" inexorabley, 
> > but I'm sure there are a number of flaws in arguments.  It seems to paint the 
> > software market in too broad brush strokes.   
> >  
> > "Open Source Software does not represent a suitable alternative to the 
> > > commercial software market from an economic point of view, neither in 
> > > terms of creating value-added nor in terms of economic efficiency.... As far
> >>  as packaged software is concerned its free 
> > > availability very much limits the creation of profits, income, jobs or 
> > > taxes...." 
> 
> If people believe free software is anarchist and/or anti-capitalist then all 
> this follows inexorably!
> 
> Based on the abstract you included the argument painted in this paper 
> seems little more sophisticated than "We think free software is actually a 
> threat to the ability of corporations and the state to exploit intellectual 
> property in software." 
> 
> Which suggests they've grasped some basic points, at least. 
> 
> Drew
> 
> 
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