Lee Iverson wrote:
>
> The MySQL license is definitely interesting but it is on the edge of
> the Open Source definition. Drawing a direct distinction between
> commercial/non-commercial uses is a problem.
>
Am now clear on that point thanks to Jon's forward from ER.
> The fundamental issue is whether we are trying to build an application
> or to build the foundation for an industry. In my opinion, there is
> no question: an industry. In order to do that we need to worry about
> some very basic things:
> o Simple standards
> & Broad interoperability
> & Very low-effort buy in
> => Open source infrastructure
>
Yeah.
> Moreover, if we really want broad industry support for the standards,
> the infrastructure needs to be a component which can be easily
> incorporated into commercial (and proprietary) software. That argues
> strongly for a BSD-style or LGPL rather than the full-fledged GPL.
>
Ok.
> Now, how do you make money in the context of an open standard and open
> source infrastructure? I think we need to think both as a group and
> as individuals on that point.
>
Yes, yes, yes.
> As a group, we're essentially in on the
> ground floor of what we hope will be a whole industry. Funding this
> effort by inviting stakeholders in on the ground floor of the
> development of standards for enterprise-ready productivity tools
> shouldn't be too hard once we clearly articulate what our plan is.
>
> As far as our individual opportunities for business development go,
> I'd say look to the Internet and Web for that. Whether or not
> anybody's eBusiness stocks are presently going anywhere or not, I
> don't think that anybody could argue that there isn't an industry
> there. Significantly, all of the infrastructure of the Web (from DNS
> to XML) has been built on open source development and simple, open
> standards. Being in on the ground floor of that development should
> give all of us a head start in attempting to define and exploit that
> incipient industry.
>
If THEY will buy it, I'll sell it.
But the recent bath in the stock market has probably voided much of the
massive optimism that preceded it. Call me crazy, but I think a viable
business model is still a requirement. On the other hand, *somebody* has
been funding the non-profit dot-com industry...
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