It seems to me that any release of software, regardless of the license, moves the open source community forward. For example: Company A releases software B as a closed source application under a highly restrictive license. Let's also assume that software B is a useful new technology. It won't take much time until geek C or company D reverse engineers the model of software B and releases software E. Obviously restricted licenses make the dissemination of technology a bit slower, but they can't stop it altogether. L.
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It seems to me that any release of software, regardless of the license, moves the open source community forward. For example: Company A releases software B as a closed source application under a highly restrictive license. Let's also assume that software B is a useful new technology. It won't take much time until geek C or company D reverse engineers the model of software B and releases software E. Obviously restricted licenses make the dissemination of technology a bit slower, but they can't stop it altogether. L.