internetnews.com: Open Source as Weapon

"It seems like every major software maker has gotten open source religion, with Sun Microsystems now considering opening its Solaris code and Microsoft posting some source code into a Linux lair.

"Experts tick off compelling reasons why a vendor of closed-source software might release code: to make the product more ubiquitous, speed development, get fresh ideas from outside the company, to complement a core revenue stream, foster a new technology--and to stymie a competitor.

"In fact, giving away some free company IP can go a long way toward making someone else's IP worth beans..."

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Related Stories:

• IT Manager's Journal: Why Open Distribution is the Real Promise of Open Source(Jun 17, 2004)
• LinuxInsider: Can Sun Emulate Linux by Open-Sourcing Solaris?(Jun 16, 2004)
• LinuxWorld: Microsoft Should Embrace Open Source, Says Linux Analyst(Jun 15, 2004)
• Financial Times: New Era Beckons for Software(Jun 09, 2004)