I've read MS's policies about licensing software over and over, and their ruinous shortsightedness about the kind of benefits that OSS brings to the market has inspired me to change some policies in an internet company I'm forming.
One of the side effects of the algorithms I'm writing for my company is that I'm *also* writing some very useful code that could be easily incorporated into OSS apps. Though I've thought about patenting those algorithms, I'd like to know whether or not you all think that releasing my code into the wild to benefit others while publicizing my work is a better business model than retaining the rights to it?
From what I've seen, I am coming to believe that patenting my algorithms might provide me with a short-term benefit (if GoogleYahooMicrosoftLexCorp wants to buy the patents), but that publicizing them might be a better business strategy in the long run.
I think, however, that trademarking makes more sense; if someone clicks on a link with my graphic design or logo, they should be assured that they'll actually GET to my site, as opposed to someone else filching my business's logo to redirect customers to their site. I don't particularly WANT to sue people, but I want to protect my company's image (GIF, not rep;-)
Does the release of my code and algorithms into the wild make more sense? Will the OSS community embrace a business model that is actually trying to do a better job at what it does than any other site, rather than trying to shut out all competition by locking down an idea in patent regulation?
I "have a friend" who has occasionally forayed into downloaded books, music, and movies. This "friend" notes that she has paid quite a bit of money for books and music from artists she has grown to know after trying out their content beforehand. I am of the opinion that publicizing your work makes far more sense than trying to close it off, and that patenting ideas and locking down content causes resentment and frustration among people who would otherwise have enjoyed doing business with you (I'm pointing a finger at YOU, Metallica!).
On the other hand, it IS a business, and I don't want to scare off investors by engaging in creating a business that has no chance of succeeding because anyone can take my idea and sink money into it.
I don't want to commit Microsoft's sins, but I also don't particularly want to spend years building an unprofitable business only to have Yahoo blitz an ad campaign for their own version of my idea.
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I've read MS's policies about licensing software over and over, and their ruinous shortsightedness about the kind of benefits that OSS brings to the market has inspired me to change some policies in an internet company I'm forming.
;-)
One of the side effects of the algorithms I'm writing for my company is that I'm *also* writing some very useful code that could be easily incorporated into OSS apps. Though I've thought about patenting those algorithms, I'd like to know whether or not you all think that releasing my code into the wild to benefit others while publicizing my work is a better business model than retaining the rights to it?
From what I've seen, I am coming to believe that patenting my algorithms might provide me with a short-term benefit (if GoogleYahooMicrosoftLexCorp wants to buy the patents), but that publicizing them might be a better business strategy in the long run.
I think, however, that trademarking makes more sense; if someone clicks on a link with my graphic design or logo, they should be assured that they'll actually GET to my site, as opposed to someone else filching my business's logo to redirect customers to their site. I don't particularly WANT to sue people, but I want to protect my company's image (GIF, not rep
Does the release of my code and algorithms into the wild make more sense? Will the OSS community embrace a business model that is actually trying to do a better job at what it does than any other site, rather than trying to shut out all competition by locking down an idea in patent regulation?
I "have a friend" who has occasionally forayed into downloaded books, music, and movies. This "friend" notes that she has paid quite a bit of money for books and music from artists she has grown to know after trying out their content beforehand. I am of the opinion that publicizing your work makes far more sense than trying to close it off, and that patenting ideas and locking down content causes resentment and frustration among people who would otherwise have enjoyed doing business with you (I'm pointing a finger at YOU, Metallica!).
On the other hand, it IS a business, and I don't want to scare off investors by engaging in creating a business that has no chance of succeeding because anyone can take my idea and sink money into it.
I don't want to commit Microsoft's sins, but I also don't particularly want to spend years building an unprofitable business only to have Yahoo blitz an ad campaign for their own version of my idea.
Ideas? Comments? Encouragement?