Re: Economics and the GPL

On Mon, 10 Jun 2002, Anthony Taylor wrote:

> Okay, I threw out the rest of my reply because we've entered into 
> speculation territory, and we have no real basis for discussion, other 
> than opinion.  However, this I have to comment on, for two reasons:

Yeah, it's speculative.  So much good debate is.  ;-)

> First, if companies keep dieing, I think we'll eventually learn our 
> lesson.  Let the market decide, let the buyer beware, let the chips fall 
> where they may, and let the cliches fly about with great abandon.  But 
> that's my eternal pessimistic optimism shining through.

Maybe.  But each new company starts with a stronger base of GPL code to 
work from, and each might think that THEY won't succumb just because the 
others did...

> Second.... HA!  Sirens and sailing legends.  Stopper yer ears and lash 
> me to the mast, but I'm a sucker for that enticing wailing song.  Very 
> funny analogy, one I think I'll have to use myself, if you don't mind 
> releasing that sucker under the X11.  :)

Do whatever you want with it.  It just occurred to me off the top of my 
head, but the more I thought about it, the more appropriate it sounded -- 
sirens luring you to destruction?  Just like legend!  :-)

Deven