open source monopoly

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If open source were a monopoly

An open source monopoly is simply not a barrier to competition. Even if a GPL program had market dominance you could still compete with it. by Dana Blankenhorn

Tags: Monopoly, Open Source Monopoly, Open Source, Dana Blankenhorn

Blog posts 2009-09-29

Trademarks and open source monopoly

Trademarks and open source monopolyTrademark protections.[i][b]So here's my question. When I can freely distribute, change, and fork an open source product, does trademark law sometimes contradict the open source concept? Does it not reach far enough, or does it go too far? [/b][/i]I'd say it's just about right.The problem with...

Tags: open source, brand

Discussion threads 2008-07-10

Additional Resources

Microsoft may have blown opportunities, but all hope is not lost

Time to let it goThe erosion has started, it cannot be stopped and the longer you try to hold on to something that fleecing away the more you lose.Game over.Android wins.:)Blown OpportunitiesThis reminds me of MS failing to see the internet coming and allowing Netscape to dominate the market. They...

Tags: Operating systems, Mobile operating systems, Handhelds, Wireless and Mobility, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Windows Mobile, mobile, phone, Windows Monopoly

Discussion threads 2009-11-17

Psystar: Cocaine, car crashes and a chance to beat Apple

Monopoly Much?How has apple been able to get away with this? Microsoft gets sued for sending their browser with their operating system while not blocking anyone else's browsers on their systems. Apple does not allow anyone else to use their operating system on other hardware, not sure how...

Tags: Operating systems, car, Apple Inc., operating system, hackintosh, Psystar

Discussion threads 2009-11-12

What would make you trust Microsoft?

Flame on!Let me save a couple people the time of posting"Microsoft is the most evil thing on earth and should be destroyed" - Linux Geek, Ole Man, D.T, No More Microsoft Software ...."I trust Microsoft with my life" - Mike Cox, Loverock, ... "They are a company. I trust them...

Tags: SECURITY, Microsoft Corp., extremist, open source, MHD

Discussion threads 2009-11-05

Why is Microsoft opening up its Outlook file format now?

Customer says: nopen/tPartner: Can't hurtIf I had to list out things I'd like to see from Microsoft, this would not be on the top of the list, but it's a great move I think.People looking to move away from other mail systems could see more tools available that make the...

Tags: E-mail, Groupware, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Outlook

Discussion threads 2009-10-27

mySQL starring as Peter Pan

the solution is simple...Oracle must commit 1 billion for MySQL and the deal will sail through.That would work, but...I don't know if Oracle is willing to commit to that. Instead they're doing the old National Lampoon "buy this magazine or we'll shoot this dog" trick, laying off 10% of Sun's...

Tags: Oracle Corp., MySQL

Discussion threads 2009-10-21

mySQL founders fork on the post-Oracle future

The co-founders of mySQL have profound disagreements on the future of the open source database following Oracle's takeover. Monty Widenius wants mySQL sold, not given to Oracle, telling reporters his Monty AB encouraged the investigation that has held up the Oracle-Sun deal. Meanwhile Marten...

Tags: Oracle Corp., MySQL, Sun Microsystems Inc., Monty Widenius, Monty, Open Source, Databases, Enterprise Software, Software, Data Management, Dana Blankenhorn

Blog posts 2009-10-20

Windows 7 puts Vista into perspective: Only a 'failure' in retrospect

The fault lies with MS and Driver manufacturersWe don't criticize macs because they are a package deal, with a price premium to match so they generally work just fine. We don't call for witch hunts of Linux distro's because we expect to have problems and tweaks with Linux, plus it's...

Tags: Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Operating systems, UNIX, OPEN SOURCE, COMPANIES, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows Vista, Linux, Microsoft Corp., Apple Macintosh, Linux Distro, operating system

Discussion threads 2009-10-19

Might Google drop Chrome OS beta as a Windows 7 spoiler?

It could also backfireand be lost in the Windows 7 hype and push?also anyboby that have 2 once of memory remember that nt vista was and in vista case is .... so a good kick in the ball by chrome os would be great ..... ...

Tags: Operating systems, Blogging, Microsoft Windows, Chrome, Chrome OS, beta, Google Inc., Chrome OS beta, operating system, Microsoft Windows 7

Discussion threads 2009-10-15

Time for Palm to give up the iTunes sync nonsense!

Apple is leveraging the monopolyYou got your guys crossed1If M$ would do anything similar there would be a revolt.We need to be consistent and call out the bad guy: Apple.palm is wrongpalm could simply use the xml file of the itunes library apple has been providing for years for interoperability...

Tags: Digital music, Digital media, palm, Apple Inc., Apple iTunes, Palm Inc., bad guy, software

Discussion threads 2009-10-07

Shuttleworth: Amazon will win cloud battle

We DO need to be able to second source our cloud provider in order to keep them honest. I applaud Amazon if they do in fact allow EC2 to become a standard.Just what the world needs...ANOTHER monopoly.:-(Did you read the article? Amazon is allowing it to become a standard, so,...

Tags: Amazon.com Inc.

Discussion threads 2009-10-05

Google and Adobe join forces on Open Screen Project

No one wants to install the Flash plugin?You mean the 100 people who won't already have it installed by default on their new PC?-MRE: Google and Adobe join forces on Open Screen ProjectIs Google going to take control of everything you watch like they tried to do in Chrome?No the...

Tags: Channel management, Web browsers, Adobe Systems Inc., Google Inc., web tool, WebKit, Microsoft Corp., Web

Discussion threads 2009-10-05

News to know: Win7, Google Wave, Palm WebOS, Apple Tablet, Google Docs

Here are today's notable headlines. You can get News To Know via email alert and RSS daily. For continuous updates see BNET's around-the-Web tech coverage. Mary Jo Foley: Microsoft's message to IT pros: Meet us half way with Windows 7 Larry Dignan: ...

Tags: Tom Foremski, Google Inc., Larry Dignan, Google Docs, Palm Inc., Andrew Nusca, Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp., Matthew Miller, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows, Tablets, Sales Strategy, Operating Systems, Software, Hardware, Notebooks & Tablets, Sales, Sam Diaz

Blog posts 2009-09-30

If open source were a monopoly

As always thoughtful, Dana. But there's a related problem..Open Source projects are notoriously bad a promoting the unpopular decisions. As such you can see open source as a form of populism.If someone wants to do a clean break - the sort of break which move technology forward - you will...

Tags: Open Source Project, open source, fork, Linux

Discussion threads 2009-09-29

Linux as Wintel parasite

You have some questionable ideas.If Microsoft hadn't happened, there still would have been the PC, there still would have been GUIs perhaps a more expensive IBM monopoly one, and there still would have been the opportunity for anyone such as Linus to write a free alternative.I think to even use...

Tags: UNIX, OPEN SOURCE, Operating systems, Wintel, Linux, interrupt, parasite, Sun Microsystems Inc., IBM Corp., hardware, Red Hat Inc., Sun Solaris

Discussion threads 2009-09-26

Palm tattles on Apple, finds itself in the hot seat instead

Why?Apple has been proven to be far worse then Palm(read: Google Voice App), so what goes around, should come around.Untill Aplle confesses, and discontinue their shenanigans when it comes to apps on their devices, then they have no reason to voice any indignation against those that do the same thing...

Tags: Digital music, Digital media, Apple Inc., Palm Inc., USB, Google Inc.

Discussion threads 2009-09-23

Open source does not work well for bad guys

Open_Source is the futureOpen_Source 'Linux distro' driven appliances are the future, such as the many companies already doing extremely well.Closed source is a huge lethargic insecure monopoly trying to license/patent everything, however it is failing miserably. Look at the exploits of Windows, $9 Billion in damages last year just from...

Tags: open source, bad guy, Conficker, Linux, Closed Source

Discussion threads 2009-09-21

Why I Can Never Be Exclusive to Linux and Open Source on the Desktop

It uses WINEBut I've noticed a number of performance issues and stability problems with it.ActuallyAs far as I've ever able to tell there's no practical difference between Picasa on Windows and Linux. StevenActually, it uses WineLib, so that it is more like a native application.But there are still all the...

Tags: UNIX, Operating systems, open source, desktop, Linux, Microsoft Windows

Discussion threads 2009-09-20

EU, US looking at MSFT-YHOO search deal: Is competition for GOOG anticompetitive?

M$ is anticompetitive by natureGoogle on the other hand is a good citizen for everyone.RE: EU, US looking at MSFT-YHOO search deal: Is competition for GOOG antico"Even if it does cause ?antitrust effects,? wouldn?t the end result be a stronger competitor for Google? Clearly. That would be good for consumers...

Tags: OPEN SOURCE, Digital media, Digital music, Investment, Businesses, Microsoft Corp., Yahoo! Inc., Google Inc.

Discussion threads 2009-09-16