Regular readers of this blog are probably aware that I've had lengthy, and sometimes heated, debates with leaders of the open source community about the value of having both free open source software (FOSS) and proprietary software systems. I made the case that inventors who hold patents for truly original and useful breakthrough software programs—and who are compassionate, empathetic, socially-minded individuals—should not be lumped together with people who receive software dubious patents for insignificant inventions. These latter inventors sole purpose is to enrich themselves by "holding other developers hostage" and constraining them from creating health information technology programs that could have great benefit for the greater good. And I fully support FOSS for taking a hard-line stand against such practices!
I made the case, therefore, that FOSS programs, and proprietary programs offered by decent inventors, can live together peacefully for everyone's benefit. For more, see this link to one of my other blogs.
I now want to announce that I've just offered a data conversion program under a free open source license. For anyone interested, it's located at this link: http://opensourceandpatents.blogspot.com/2008/11/first-open-source-offering-xml-to-csv.html
2 comments:
FOSS is supported by globally distributed groups of developers, associations of companies, non-profit foundations, businesses that sell added value support and services, user groups, and academic and research institutions. It is increasingly becoming a global software standard, often the default choice for operating systems to applications, since it can help individuals and organizations structurally reduce their software costs, enhance security, increase open standards compliance, avoid vendor lock-in, and build long-term IT investment protection.
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oliviaharis
stealth
I, too, support FOSS for all it offers, and hope to find out now by personal experience its far reaching benefits.
Nevertheless, there are situations, in which proprietary programs offered by fair and reputable vendors, provide distinct advantages to what's available under a FOSS license.
That's why I make the case that FOSS and proprietary programs having real value should be able to live together peacefully.
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