This line is basically the thesis of the book "Information Feudalism" by Drahos and Braithwaite (ISBN 1 85383 917 5). If you are interested in being able to argue against over-strong intellectual property law I recommend reading this book.
I'm involved in an academic-industrial project with a company whose main business is providing linux-based telephony systems. They include voice-mail, switchboard services, fax receipt and a bunch of other related stuff from linux servers they install and maintain in the customer's premises.
See http://www.smtnet.co.uk/
and look at their efinity server for information on what they do with it.
Some, but possibly not all, of the software they ship on the boxes, is fully open source. They sell the boxes and the support services for their primary income.
Dr Andrew A. Adams
Lecturer in Systems Engineering
The University of Reading
Slashdot Mirror
This line is basically the thesis of the book "Information Feudalism" by Drahos and Braithwaite (ISBN 1 85383 917 5). If you are interested in being able to argue against over-strong intellectual property law I recommend reading this book.
I'm involved in an academic-industrial project with a company whose main business is providing linux-based telephony systems. They include voice-mail, switchboard services, fax receipt and a bunch of other related stuff from linux servers they install and maintain in the customer's premises. See http://www.smtnet.co.uk/ and look at their efinity server for information on what they do with it. Some, but possibly not all, of the software they ship on the boxes, is fully open source. They sell the boxes and the support services for their primary income. Dr Andrew A. Adams Lecturer in Systems Engineering The University of Reading