[Industry] Some thoughts, based on the FOSS4G-E discussion

[Peter Baumann]

Hi activists,industry at lists.osgeo.org

background: At the FOSS4G-Europe last week we had a 2h discussion on "FOSS & 
business". Key OSGeo representatives like Jeff McKenna and Jachym Cepicky joined 
in and promised to carry discussion into OSGeo. One outcome is this mailing list.

I'd like to take the opportunity of summarizing a few thoughts I find key.

- why care?
Because a large part of the OSGeo community is making money with FOSS in one or 
the other way. Frankly, they need to survive from the money they make. OSGeo 
should enable, not kill business opportunities.

- OSGeo role.
We discussed intensively how OSGeo could promote FOSS-based business. Some 
agreed that the right level of comrpehensiveness should be: branding and 
supporting "free & open source software" as a concept ready & mature for 
business. This message is simple and agreeable enough that OSGeo could act on 
this indeed.

- no more cannibals!
More than once I have seen discussions ending up in cannibalizing ourselves by 
condemning business completely (in particular: dual license models), rather than 
being flexible (something essential for any small business, at least) and 
supporting creative business models that help the FOSS mission overall. There is 
a continuum of different business models inbetween the extremes of totally FOSS 
and totally proprietary.

- OSGeo project branding.
While I understand the good will  behind selecting "good" FOSS projects (ie, 
their software) as a buyer's guide, I again see the danger that we cannibalize 
ourselves: the flipside of the message is that all non-OSGeo-branded FOSS 
projects are not mature, not to be recommended. Does/can/should OSGeo want to 
take on this responsibility? (disclaimer: I'm saying this in a situation where 
rasdaman, after several years of effort, is now close to finalizing incubation, 
so if branding would be abolished part of our effort would be in vain.)

Altogether, OSGeo IMHO can support businesses by placing a clear message "FOSS 
is good for customers because it fulfills critical needs" (catchy phrasing to be 
found).

So much for my impressions - thanks, dear reader, for bearing with me!

cheers,
Peter


-- 
Dr. Peter Baumann
  - Executive Director, rasdaman GmbH Bremen (HRB 26793)
    www.rasdaman.com, mail: baumann at rasdaman.com
    tel: 0800-rasdaman, fax: 0800-rasdafax, mobile: +49-173-5837882
  - Professor of Computer Science, Jacobs University Bremen
    www.faculty.jacobs-university.de/pbaumann
    mail: p.baumann at jacobs-university.de
    tel: +49-421-200-3178, fax: +49-421-200-493178
"A brilliant idea is a job halfdone."