No other market is quite like software. General Motors isn't forced to contend with a "free car" movement, which has a goal of undermining sales-based automakers. Dell isn't faced with a grass roots PC hardware movement, which says PCs should be free--and then hands out samples at no cost. Of course, software is unique as its production relies purely on the mind. Even if a renegade group wanted to offer free cars, it would not be feasible as long as raw materials carry a cost. In software, all it takes to challenge established proprietary software vendors is to convince enough developers to donate their time, or more specifically, their brainpower.
|