The Worth of Open Source? Open Question

“For all the success of open-source software–developers the
world over flock to the code available freely over the
Internet–its purveyors able to thrive as public companies are few.
Linux operating system seller Red Hat has generated billions in
value for investors, but its shares have slipped 3% in the past
year amid new competition. Novell, which supports a version of
Linux, has been criticized for striking a cooperation deal with
Microsoft seen by many as a threat to the spread of Linux.

“That small community of open-source stocks may soon be
widening. MySQL, a fast-growing maker of database software used by
some of the Internet’s most recognized brands, is preparing to file
for an initial public offering, perhaps as soon as late
2007…”

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