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Who has really profited from Open Source?

There have been many discussions about the benefits of Open Source - the usually mentioned cost reductions and reduced dependencies, or the positive impact on development and implementation speed (as just mentioned in a blog post by Jan Lyman from 451 Group). A key question though is who actually has really profited from the fact that since roughly 10 years with have viable Open Source technologies that can be used as components or as replacement of commercial software.  In my eyes it’s three groups that benefited the most:

  1. Startups and internet mega players - without Open Source Google, Youtube or Facebook wouldn’t be were they are today. Think about the license money they would have had to play to Sun or IBM.
  2. Enterprises - with the rise and success of Open Source technologies competing traditional commercial software had to lower prices substantially. Just look at the prices for content management or databases.
  3. Software companies - with Open Source development speed can be increased and the cost for new features has been going down thanks to the possibility to integrate Open Source software

Commerical Open Source companies are not (yet) on this list, as in my eyes only a few have been really successful (yet) and the amount of money they are making is certainly neglectable in comparison with what Google or IBM are pocketing.

This entry was posted by Bruno von Rotz on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 4:03 am and is filed under Enterprise open source, Open Source projects. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

One Response to “Who has really profited from Open Source?”

  1. Ralph Beutner Says:
    November 11th, 2009 at 2:57 am

    Hi Bruno,

    I totally understand your point of view and it is certainly an very important point. I believe that business plans for new startups, working with open source, should have more than just money in the mind. For my understanding with open source there is a chance for a win-win situation for everyone. The developers, the users, the companys and the social communities could be winners of they follow and understand the Open Source concept.

    I personally working to supoort Open Source in my small place where I live and work. and I think there are thousands more all over the world. It is the freedom and the peoples of the communities that make this spirit of Open Source so strong and this is the mindset that quide be, independed from the question of money.

    I can say that I am one who benefit from Open Source. Not in my wallet but in my heart.

    Friendliest regards
    Ralph

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