[CS-FSLUG] Proprietary Software: Capitalism or Greed?

[Jukka]

On 3/22/06, Don Parris <gnumathetes at gmail.com> wrote:

> Here's a question.  How long could Capitalism (at least where software
> is concerned) last without FOSS?  In other words, FOSS ensures a free
> market for Capitalism to survive.  But does proprietary software
> really ensure the survival of a free market?  Given the nature of some
> of the companies behind proprietary software, licenses would likely
> become ever stricter and more costly.  Given that many applications
> seem to be heading down the road toward Internet-based,
> subscription-oriented services, the whole issue may be moot.  Even so
>
> Don

I think free market needs FOSS to survive. If it is supposed to be
open for competition, it's infrastructure (operating systems,
fileformats, codecs, communication protocols etc.) should be FOSS.
Then sofware vendors - closed or open source - can concentrate in
competition based on merits of their products.

- Jukka