Code Debate
Can free sw exist with proprietary sw
Jason Maslou? (Shared resource mgr)
Larry Lessig
 
On the surface there is coexistence in the eco-system –tension is whether free sw will survive
 
You gots
            Free  -- open – shared – proprietary
 
So lessig is taking free and open vs proprietary
 

Advantages

Zero price
Good code
Teaching others
Strategic behavior
 But destroy IP?
 
 




 

Open

Free

Shared

Proprietary


Free

Y

Y

M

Y


Good

Y

Y

Y

Y


Teach

All

all

Some

None


Strategy

Unlikely

Never

Y,hard

 


Destroy

N

?

?

N
 
Both free sw and proprietary impose a condition on a user (copyleft)
 
Proprietary sw imposes condition of no right to modify
 
Microsoft has acknowledged open/free is competitive threat
 
From microsoft’s perspective opposing open is good
 
From govt’s perspective – increased interesting in requirements for open software for obvious reasons
 
Maintaining a rich ecology keeps options open, assures competition
 
Microsoft response – government should not support the GPL part of the ecosystem
 
Bks                              Microsoft                                             Answer

primary stimulus for innovation is IP protection  Not only stimulus
private sector foreclosed                                               Not all (e.g. IBM)
commercial application foreclosed                                 (only MS)
 
Jason
 
(first he gives larry a dark cape and light sword)
 
There is a lot of attention drawn to MS when you talk of windows v linux. Or other product level discussion.
 
Not talking about that.  Shared source is thinking about issues surrounding Industry, IP, economics, policy…
 
Cycle of innovation within software community including govt research, academic, industry, customers with shared knowledge
 
TCP/IP came out of this cycle.  I disagree with Larry that internet came about bks of tcp/ip and architecture – in truth it is because of production of cheap hw and communication techniques
 
There is no right way to create sw
Combination of models has been critical factor for past 30 years
 
The bulk of open source sw is being commercialized.  That is where ballmer’s comments are focused.
 
There is an industry move to the middle.   IBM does proprietary and non-proprietary (Notes vs. Linux)  and other examples
 
Did model of software investment – shows that innovation as a competitive differentiation shrinks when shifting to open source.
 
Why is source code important in debate
            Transparencey increases trust
-         ~60% say source access is critical for view/modify
-