Site Contents

• Register

• About FOSS4G
• Important Dates
• Sponsors
• Contacts

• Program Overview
• Plenaries
• Presentations
• Labs
• Workshops
• Exhibition
• Events

• Travel Information
• Accommodations
• Special Activities

• About Victoria
• Dining & Shopping
• Nanaimo & Vancouver Island
• The Gulf Islands

Home > Presentations

Free Software Business

Presentation | Presented

• Arnulf Christl, WhereGroup GmbH & Co. KG

Business around Free and Open Source Software is similar to that of any proprietary package. But there are differences beyond not having to pay an initial usage license fee. This presentation looks at business aspects from the servcie provider's perspective and shows the opportunities for clients. Interesting to both parties is how to avoid pitfalls when coming to terms.

The OSGeo community is starting to build an environment that helps to further and spread the use of Open Source development and Free Software licensing. One of the efforts is a service provider directory on the portal pages. It is a fine example of the globalization mantra 'Think Global, Act Local'. A good half year after starting operation the presentation will summarize what has been achieved, any lessons learned and dare a perspective of how it can help to shape the future of geospatial business around FOSS4G.