Mandrake files for French version of bankruptcy

[Gregory Aharonian <srctran@world.std.com>]

The following is the from the back page essay in the May 2003 issue of
Linux magazine, commenting on the death of Mandrake, and questioning
whether there is any realistic business model for open source, except
the business model of creating servicing opportunities for large companies
such as IBM to outsource to India and China.

    Mandrake's Down, Who's Next?
    Steven Vaughan-Nichols
    Linux Magazine, May 2003, 68

    Mandrake is beloved by Linux fans.  Mandrake is a favorite of the
    Linux desktop crew.  And Mandrake is on its way out the door.

    On 13 January 2003, Mandrake filed a 'declaration de cessation des
    paiements', French for 'Chapter 11'.  Even begging for money from
    its loyal users couldn't reverse Mandrake's fate.  Now the question
    is: What other Linux companies will follow in its wake?

    Mandrake's fall spells out - for anyone who hasn't put it together
    yet - that since Linux is open source and is essentially free, the
    basic business plan of packing a product (Linux) for resale just
    doesn't work.  When the basic material of your distribution is free
    for the taking, not enough people will pay for it to make it
    worthwhile.

The author goes on to offer three possibilities: lock-in software
distribution at the low end (such as Lindows), which doesn't have much
of a sustainable business model, proprietary add-ons and servicing
(such as SCO, which gets back to pure copyright and patents), or make
your source code such a pain-in-the-ass to install that people will want
to buy binaries from you as well as service contracts (such as RedHat,
though a philosophy directly counter to the Linux self-help movement).
But servicing is a very competitive business that the big boys like IBM
tend to win.  And IBM doesn't have to pay you anything.  I applaud your
altruism.  Me, I want a big fat software patent.

Greg Aharonian