Difference between revisions of "Commercial Open Source Software"

From Free Open Source Software
Jump to navigationJump to search
m (Protected "Commercial Open Source Software": Registered users only - please register! [edit=autoconfirmed:move=autoconfirmed])
(Update)
Line 5: Line 5:
"Dual-licensed open source" is an administration method whereby companies provide software with open source licenses and also license the very same code with a proprietary license for organizations whose procurement systems require one.  The principle with dual-licensed software is the same: it can be FOSS if all versions are made available in a FOSS license approved by the [http://www.opensource.org/ OSI].
"Dual-licensed open source" is an administration method whereby companies provide software with open source licenses and also license the very same code with a proprietary license for organizations whose procurement systems require one.  The principle with dual-licensed software is the same: it can be FOSS if all versions are made available in a FOSS license approved by the [http://www.opensource.org/ OSI].


Some examples of COSS are listed below.  [Please only add links to pages describing closed software requiring fees).
== COSS Software ==
 
Some examples of COSS are listed below.  (Please only add links below to pages describing closed software requiring fees).


* [http://www.concursive.com/buydownload.shtml ConcourseSuite] (formerly Centric)
* [http://www.concursive.com/buydownload.shtml ConcourseSuite] (formerly Centric)
Line 12: Line 14:
* [http://www.knowledgetree.com/products/knowledgetree_editions_feature_matrix KnowledeTree]
* [http://www.knowledgetree.com/products/knowledgetree_editions_feature_matrix KnowledeTree]
* [http://www.magnolia.info/en/products/licensing-pricing.html Magnolia]
* [http://www.magnolia.info/en/products/licensing-pricing.html Magnolia]
* [http://www.mysql.com/products/enterprise/unlimited.html MySQL]
* [http://www.scalix.com/enterprise/ Scalix]
* [http://www.scalix.com/enterprise/ Scalix]
* [http://www.splendidcrm.com/Products/SplendidCRMProfessional/tabid/72/Default.aspx SpendidCRM]
* [http://www.splendidcrm.com/Products/SplendidCRMProfessional/tabid/72/Default.aspx SpendidCRM]
Line 17: Line 20:
* [http://www.zimbra.com/products/product_editions.html Zimbra]
* [http://www.zimbra.com/products/product_editions.html Zimbra]


Companies that thought about COSS but then decided FOSS was the better strategic decision include:
== From COSS to FOSS ==
 
Companies that thought about COSS but then decided FOSS was the better strategic decision:


* [http://www.alfresco.com/legal/licensing/faq/#faq1 Alfresco]
* [http://www.alfresco.com/legal/licensing/faq/#faq1 Alfresco]

Revision as of 20:55, 29 June 2008

FOSS can be sold and often is, for example with support agreements including telephone and rapid patch response, or with services agreements to match configuration to an organization's process workflow. And there isn't anything wrong with that according to most FOSS licenses. Indeed, to this day the primary product of RedHat the most commercially successful open source company ever, is the FOSS operating system Linux.

Commercial Open Source Software (COSS) often contains elements of FOSS, however it also limits availability of some enhanced functionality to closed proprietary software, thereby creating a potential path to the same old vendor lock-in, and so does not qualify as FOSS as a whole.

"Dual-licensed open source" is an administration method whereby companies provide software with open source licenses and also license the very same code with a proprietary license for organizations whose procurement systems require one. The principle with dual-licensed software is the same: it can be FOSS if all versions are made available in a FOSS license approved by the OSI.

COSS Software

Some examples of COSS are listed below. (Please only add links below to pages describing closed software requiring fees).

From COSS to FOSS

Companies that thought about COSS but then decided FOSS was the better strategic decision: