[ Thanks to Niki
Scevak for this link. ]
This column maintains that there’s got to be a middle ground
between the diametric opposites of Microsoft and open source
software: “Mundie sees software in a commercial sense, and Torvalds
sees it in the realm of science. Clearly, the two are diametrically
opposed. In that sense, Mundie is not right or wrong and the same
holds for Torvalds, their opinions are merely misdirected.”
A verbal war between Microsoft Senior VP, Craig Mundie
and Operating System impresario Linus Torvalds has erupted over the
validity of Open Source software. Just how much of the argument has
merit?Something worth exploring further are Mundie’s comments on
Intellectual Property (IP). The GPL license (the de facto standard
of Open Source software) ostensibly drives the cost of software
down to zero. This is because the distribution guidelines in the
license allow any party to distribute the software at whatever cost
they choose.If we believe that resources are allocated to the greatest
opportunity, then commercial incentive is absolutely key to quality
software. In theory, if companies are not able to charge for
software, then companies will not create as many software products
and the industry is worse off.