Re: [Fsfe-uk] BBC trial of embedded Flash video

[Dave Crossland]

On 21/05/07, Ian Lynch <address@hidden> wrote:
> > >
> > > But how do the VCs get their money back?
> >
> > High end development services, mainly porting, is big business.
>
> But if anyone can do it

All users of free software have the freedom to start a business doing
development services. In theory, anyone can do it. But how many people
do you have in your addressbook with the skillset to port Gnash to a
new architecture? In practice, not just anyone can do it, and the
number of people who can do it well are all gonna be employed by Rob
Savoye :-D

> where is their competitive advantage to come from?

Proven competence, speed of turnaround, price point - you know,
_ethical_ market differentiators, as opposed to bogus ones typically
employed by proprietary software vendors :-)

> it seems like an unusual investment for a VC to make.

There is a gap in the market for a stack of free software flash
technology, and no one is pursuing it; there is "money left on the
table" so to speak.

Note that gnash's website is gnash.lulu.com and one can hazard a guess
where the money is coming from :-)

--
Regards,
Dave