Despite the intense criticism thrown his way by Open
Software/Free Software advocates, Microsoft’s Craig Mundie responds
with his reasons as to why Open/Free software is still
questionable: because it devalues the intellectual-property rights
of individuals. To wit:
“When comparing the commercial software model to the open-source
software model, look carefully at the business plans and licensing
structures that form their foundations. This comparison leads to
the conclusion that the commercial software model alone has the
capacity for sustaining real economic growth. Intellectual capital
has always been, and will remain, the core asset of the software
industry, and of almost every other industry. Preserving that
capital–and investing in its constant renewal–benefits
everyone.”