LWN.net Logo

Other businesses with high profitability

Other businesses with high profitability

Posted Dec 22, 2005 4:21 UTC (Thu) by bk (guest, #25617)
In reply to: Other businesses with high profitability by emkey
Parent article: Mandriva to ship Skype

Free software existed before there were any companies based on it, and I would assume free software will continue after all of them are gone (or after the very concept of a software-based business becomes an anachronism).


(Log in to post comments)

Other businesses with high profitability

Posted Dec 22, 2005 18:27 UTC (Thu) by emkey (guest, #144) [Link]

Existence and relevancy are two very different things. I have no doubt that free software will continue to exist in some for for the forseable future. The question is what portion of the market will it make up. And I can tell you with 100% certainty that no company of any size will touch free software with a ten foot poll if they don't have somebody to call when they run into problems. When I was in my 20's I didn't understand this attitude. As I rapidly approach age 40 I have no problem at all understanding it. CYA isn't just an acronym, it's a dang good idea. And having a specific number to call when things go wrong is a very comforting position to be in.

Copyright © 2012, Eklektix, Inc.
Comments and public postings are copyrighted by their creators.
Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds