November 14th, 2006
What about IBM, then?
In all the big moves made by big companies over the last few weeks in the open source world, one name has been conspicuous by its absence.
IBM.
IBM expressed disappointment on Monday that Sun’s Java will be licensed under the GPL, rather than folded into another Apache-licensed program. Beyond that it’s been silent.
My own view is that the Java announcement speaks volumes about IBM’s open source strategy generally. Like everyone else IBM sees open source through the prism of self-interest. It’s a technology floor on which IBM and others build.
So there is the floor and there is what IBM has added to the floor, and kept. The latter consists of code, talent, and project management expertise. What IBM holds back for its clients only gives it an advantage over everyone else, especially among the large accounts that can afford its overhead.
The Apache license accepts this reality. The GPL does not. Behind IBM’s mild complaint is a scream of pain, an acknowledgement that Sun has cleverly kicked it in the shins.
That looks like the strategy. The question is whether Sun can do anything with it and take some major accounts away from IBM.
What do you think IBM’s open source strategy looks like?
Dana Blankenhorn has been a business journalist for 30 years, a tech freelancer since 1983. You can follow Dana on Twitter. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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| 11/16/06
