There are a number of indicators that the "big boys" are doing everything they can to cut the legs out from under the OpenSource software industry, and this makes me a bit nervous, because if the attacks are successful, it could seriously limit the options one has available with regards to software. Two recent developments that are of greatest concern are the purchase of Sun by Oracle, and the slew of lawsuits against those involved in the Android telephone business.
The disappearance of Sun has an impact in that Sun was an active developer (and owned the rights to the name) of OpenOffice- this has made the OpenOffice group nervous enough that they have introduced the same product under the LibreOffice mark. Sun also was the major sponsor of a project called "Orca", perhaps lf little interest to most people, but of significant importance to my associates that must deal with impaired vision- their only viable option is the very expensive Jaws solution, which also tends to limit them to the more expensive Windows operating system (and some of my visually-impaired associates are not in a financial position to acquire these more expensive solutions). Oracle is now suing Google over the use of Java for the Android Mobile telephone operating system- when Sun originally put Java on the market under Open Source license (I am not sure they used the GPL license, and I am not sure what software patents Google supposedly violates by using Java for Android, but the whole things sounds like an attack on OpenSource). And, closer to my own heart, Sun was the developer of VirtualBox, which is the best solution I have found to keeping my legacy software (which I bought and paid for) functional. and, of course, there is Sun't MySQL, the OpenSource database solution, and OpenSoalris...
The second issue is the round of attacks against the Android operating system, both the lawsuit against Google by Sun, and Apple and Microsoft suing telephone manufacturers that adopt the Android platform (the latest being Microsoft's suit against Motorola). Why are Apple, Microsoft and Oracle attacking Android? could it have something to do with the fact that Android appears to be far more popular than the MS Windows for Mobile (MS is reportedly about to introduce version 7 of this) and the Apple iOS?
Does this sound like the current patent process is "promoting innovation/invention", as has been reported was a primary reason for establishing patent law in the US in the first place? I am not opposed to allowing an inventor to pursue financial gain from his hard work, but when the major players in an industry use this same patent law to stifle competition, as appears to be the case here, the process appears to be backfiring...
I am somewhat dependent on OpenSource solution- I can not afford, say, a $9,000 license for COMSOL Multiphysics, or $4,000 for AutoCAD, or the cost of adding seats so that my employees can use the software as well. If I want to pursue the business opportunities offered by engineering software, I must rely on OpneSource solutions (f which there happen to be quite a few very good ones).
My personal approach to this situation is to boycott products from Microsoft, Oracle, Apple, and Hewlett Packard (HP is involved in the slew of anti-Android law suits as well, but my primary boycott of HP is much older than this- I can not forgive them for dragging the most respected name in Test Equipment into the mud). I am now avoiding any software built on Java (the original developer of Java is no longer with Oracle/Sun, having left in a huff), although this is not always easy to determine or practical. My limited impact as a single consumer is unlikely to have any real impact on the situation, but it makes me feel better. And I occasionally have to violate my principles (I still find it necessary to use my legally acquired Excel 2000 package under in my Sun VirtualBox installation, and I continue to use my Palm organizer, in spite of the fact that that is now an HP product- although mine predates the purchase of Palm by HP).
Furthermore, I voluntarily help others adopt OpenSource solutions- including assisting my competitors in the adoption of OpenSource engineering solutions (that is not totally altruistic- the more suppliers offering these services, the bigger the market gets. And occasionally the free support I provide results in a lucrative support contract). i continue to help the visually-impaired with computer accessibility (it seems that when Oracle cut the Orca project, the prime movers have gone independent, and the community is actually getting more active). And I am trying to set up a program at a local technical university to get the latest engineering and scientific solutions in the hands of the next generation, so that they have real opportunity to make a difference in the world...
We owe it to our future generations to keep options open...
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Future of OpenSource Under Attack
Re: Future of OpenSource Under Attack
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