Comments on: Closing an open-source deal through your systems integrator

How does an open-source company foster unfettered adoption of its software while preventing would-be partners from undermining its ability to make a profit?

[botchagalupe]

That sure sounds like a recipe straight from some BIG propitiatory vendors I know. I know you guys have been successful and all and who am I to question. However, that list sounds like a very close-minded services approach to an open source product. In my mind I would think you would want every service provider under the sun to feel free to promote the use of your product (no holds barred). As long as you the vendor create/supplies the best sauce then like your customers the service partners will always need me. Giving unfettered access to service companies is, IMHO, no different from giving access to your base source version for free. Yes you run the risk of any prospective company taking your code and competing with you as a software company. However that typically doesn't happen because you have so much of a head start. IMHO, that would be the same case for service company If you provide the best sauce the service company/partner will want to work with you. However, if you can't keep up either as a software company or as a provider for SP's then you deserve the wrath of the "live by the sword die by the sword" effect ... IMHO you can't (or maybe shouldn't) have you cake and eat it to. ...

[rszrama]

"You're not giving the their services away; why should they give away your software?"

This really seems like a silly question... By providing releasing your software with an open source license, you're already giving it away! Would you contend that it's open source as long as it comes from your community, but no one has the right to pass it on if they're going to make money providing services around it? I guess I've just never seen an open source license that reads like that... but you can bet I'd never use it.

[seanupton]

The end-user loses here. Smart end-user companies might want to be part of your ecosystem/community, but you are sending a signal that they cannot expect T&M and support services from folks without a product agenda. That agenda colors everything. I work in IT and support development in content management systems, and I want to throw dollars that I can at services at TCO less than 40% of the cost of a proprietary equivalent... Please don't tell me I can't throw money at Alfresco or your partners without buying a product.