"As the success of Linux, Apache and other open
software grows, corporate participation in open-source projects and
use of open-source software is likewise increasing. Not
surprisingly, so are the attacks from open source's critics. After
dismissing open source as a fringe movement for years, these
critics now seek to thwart its growing success by, among other
things, casting doubts upon the economic viability of open-source
business models.
These criticisms--that open-source business models are built on
nothing more than the hope that by giving software away vendors
will be able to sell users something else, such as service and
support--raise some fundamental questions...
There are some easy, emotionally satisfying answers to the
questions above, such as "The good side is winning, and volunteers
working for free will save the software world." But reality is
rarely so simple, and economic reality never is. Businesses (at
least those that survive) do things because it is in their interest
to do them."
