[ Thanks to Michael
S. Mimoso for this link. ]
“Why do you think that corporate IT managers should act
as lobbyists, persuading major vendors to support
open-source?“Perens: It is in IS managers’ interest for
open-source software to remain viable. The risk is for the entire
industry, from top to bottom. Intellectual property issues will
affect small and medium-sized businesses just as much as large
companies. It’s time for the open-source community to push back.
IBM and HP are doing great business for Linux and open-source
software, but we need their help. So we need corporate IS managers
to talk with them about these issues.“What’s the biggest risk to the continued viability of
open-source software?“Perens: Software patents. Open-source
developers are happy to keep writing software, but we do need
companies like IBM and HP that have been our friends to help us
with the issues surrounding software patents. I have developed OSS
independently, on my own time. I am at risk, technically, from
software patent holders. I think we need some change there. I would
prefer not to lose my house, my car, due to a legal action against
me…”