Recently, during FISL (Fórum Internacional de Software Livre), in Brazil, Eric Raymond defended open source model of development and quoted: "Basically, we don't need GPL. It's based on the belief that open source software is weak and needs to be protected. With it, we continue injuring ourselves, cutting ourselves from the economic benefits of BSD license".

Raymond tried, in a straight and ironic way, to explain how open source community should have good "appeals" to convince all the great corporations about the benefits of the use of open source technology: "We should identify theis goals and needs. Not our goals and needs. Then, they will come, because our model is much better".

He infriged that we should focus mainly in the the issue related to the control of your own business: "In the proprietary software model, your vendor controls. Can you chance whenever you want to? No! Do you want to have control without dependency risks? Go open source!", said Raymond.

Incisor, he went on polemics. For him, freedom do not have primary importance.

"Open source has the benefit for not fighting against the anti-capitalist concept that comes with free software. But where is the money but in the great companies? Our arguments cannot be guided by moral aspects. They should be guided by pratic arguments, such as profit and advantages related to our competidors".

And he was even more ironic:

"Freedom and choice are pretty cool. But we should talk about many other things. GPL is based on the belief that open source software is weak and needs to be protected. With it, we continue injuring ourselves, cutting ourselves from the economic benefits of BSD license".

Thoughout his presentation, Raymond explain that the greatest feature of "The cathedral and the bazar" is its language that can be delighted by anybody in the world. He even said that in tow years, the Open Source Iniciative, organization that he manages, have gotten more results than Free Software Foundation has gotten in fifteen.

"I had to learn about marketing to succed. I got tired of seeing the good ones losing space for idiots just because of marketing. The companies structure is made to avoid significant changes. That is why we should act, strategically, on the informational environment and promote open source in the most efficient way. With numbers, of course, showing that we have more features, less bugs and even lesses costs", said Raymond, that asked:

- Dont let the community split just because of phylospohy strugle. Evangelism is something trivial. We shopuld decide if we want ideological wins or to succeed. I prefer to succeed.

He finished saying:

- Markets seek efficiency. That is the reason we will prevail. We do not lock our clients. We do not tell lies.

Source:

Luiz Gustavo Ramos
www.OpenIT.com.br