Mapserver acceptance as open source

[Attila Csipa]

On Sunday 07 January 2007 21:00, John Mitchell wrote:
> I am getting concerned that Mapserver will not be accepted by one of our
> clients because its open source.  Has anyone else ever have a similar
> problem?  Does anyone have any advice?

Try to find out what exactly in open source bothers them, and dissolve any FUD 
that they might have been spread to them. If they have a list of issues, that 
can be dealt with, if it's just 'gut feeling' from management then it will be 
much harder. If you are talking to suits (no offense anyone :), from personal 
experience, do not emphasise the free aspect of Open Source (beer or word), 
rather concentrate on synergy, development speed, flexibility, community 
aspects. I found it helpful to use big companies that use Open Source for 
reference and added authority, like - Hey, if it's good enough for IBM on 
their big iron and it's good enough for Google for their top services... And 
these are companies that have many many factors on which to judge software, 
not only price. Again, I must underline you must find out what exactly 
bothers them in Open Source and address that particular issue, it will help 
much more than 3rd party success stories.

A good read on the topic:

http://www.opensource.org/advocacy/case_for_business.php
http://www.opensource.org/advocacy/faq.php