Re: Mixed Source (Was RE: Code donations for RPGUI initiative)

Kelly Cookson skrev:

I came across an interesting article that discusses mixed source--the attempt to find business models that mix open source and proprietary software\services.

This sentence in the executive summary "Proprietary software, on the other hand, results in superior value capture because the intellectual property remains under the control of the original developer. " shows to me that those who wrote the article ... ehm, how shall I put it ... has not fully done their homework.

I'd be happy to give my thoughts. Just for the record, I personally believe strongly that _using_ open source software allows us to create better software. It is up to the decision makers whether we should also _write_ open source software.

I would suggest you think a bit over what it is you want to do, and _WHY_ as that decides a lot of your options.

To give you food for thought I would suggest you read this chapter from Eric Raymond about various ways to make money anyway from Open Source software.

http://catb.org/~esr/writings/cathedral-bazaar/magic-cauldron/ar01s09.html

Here are the headings:

Loss-Leader/Market Positioner
Widget Frosting
Give Away the Recipe, Open a Restaurant
Accessorizing
Free the Future, Sell the Present
Free the Software, Sell the Brand
Free the Software, Sell the Content