Monday, August 29, 2005
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
� Open source risks now insurable | Open Source | ZDNet.com
� Open source risks now insurable | Open Source | ZDNet.com: "Open source risks now insurable
-Posted by Dana Blankenhorn @ 8:06 am
General Linux Software Licensing Legal
It may sound silly, but Lloyd's of London is now willing to write policies against the intellectual property risks of open source software. (This Lloyd's bottlestopper is available for just 30 pounds, plus VAT and shipping.)
To understand why this is important, consider how the insurance business works. True insurance covers the unexpected. Most medical insurance isn't really insurance per se, but a form of banking. We know you'll get sick (or at least be prescribed something to prevent it), so we estimate the costs and apportion them out.
Real insurance works differently. Real insurance, the kind of policies Lloyd's writes, is a form of gambling. A capital pool is created and risks are assigned to it. If there are no claims during the policy term, the investors get their money back, plus the premiums paid against it, plus any investment profits they can generate in the meantime. (On the other hand, risks can be unlimited, too.)
Before Lloyd's is going to write a policy, in other words, the chances of loss have to be pretty low.
Despite all the evidence found in courts so far, businesses are still being told there are risks to open source software. The point today is that smart money now knows how low those risks really are."
-Posted by Dana Blankenhorn @ 8:06 am
General Linux Software Licensing Legal
It may sound silly, but Lloyd's of London is now willing to write policies against the intellectual property risks of open source software. (This Lloyd's bottlestopper is available for just 30 pounds, plus VAT and shipping.)
To understand why this is important, consider how the insurance business works. True insurance covers the unexpected. Most medical insurance isn't really insurance per se, but a form of banking. We know you'll get sick (or at least be prescribed something to prevent it), so we estimate the costs and apportion them out.
Real insurance works differently. Real insurance, the kind of policies Lloyd's writes, is a form of gambling. A capital pool is created and risks are assigned to it. If there are no claims during the policy term, the investors get their money back, plus the premiums paid against it, plus any investment profits they can generate in the meantime. (On the other hand, risks can be unlimited, too.)
Before Lloyd's is going to write a policy, in other words, the chances of loss have to be pretty low.
Despite all the evidence found in courts so far, businesses are still being told there are risks to open source software. The point today is that smart money now knows how low those risks really are."
CEOs share secrets of long-term growth - News - ZDNet
CEOs share secrets of long-term growth - News - ZDNet: "Executive panel discusses profit strategy at Software 2005 event
At the Sand Hill Group's Software 2005 conference in Santa Clara, Calif., Cape Horn Strategies President Brian Turchin asks chief executives Jim Cashman (ANSYS), Mike Greenough (SSA Global), Amnon Landan (Mercury) and Bernard Liautaud (Business Objects) to give their thoughts on building a business capable of sustaining long periods of growth and profitability. "
Click above title for free video.
At the Sand Hill Group's Software 2005 conference in Santa Clara, Calif., Cape Horn Strategies President Brian Turchin asks chief executives Jim Cashman (ANSYS), Mike Greenough (SSA Global), Amnon Landan (Mercury) and Bernard Liautaud (Business Objects) to give their thoughts on building a business capable of sustaining long periods of growth and profitability. "
Click above title for free video.
Life, Growth, Leadership - Entrepreneural Style | thinksba.com
Life, Growth, Leadership - Entrepreneural Style | thinksba.com: "Take the 24 hr Promotion Test � Where Does Your Business Stand?
Posted August 9, 2005
What exactly is promotion? Is it the sales you offer new customers or visitors to your website? Or the ads you run in the newspaper? Or the discounts you give to your repeat customers? Yes, all of that and more."
Click title above for full link
Posted August 9, 2005
What exactly is promotion? Is it the sales you offer new customers or visitors to your website? Or the ads you run in the newspaper? Or the discounts you give to your repeat customers? Yes, all of that and more."
Click title above for full link
Monday, August 15, 2005
SandHill.com | Management | 10 New Opportunities for Software Vendors
SandHill.com | Management | 10 New Opportunities for Software Vendors: "OPINION
10 New Opportunities for Software Vendors
The confluence of new technologies, emerging business models and globalization leads to big business prospects for software companies.
Romesh Wadhwani, Symphony Technology Group
Aug 12, 05
We are in an industry that is having trouble coming to grips with reality.
Software companies thought for a long time that our industry could defy gravity and experience double-digit revenue growth forever.
The truth is that our customers no longer value cutting-edge technology over business results. Our investors no longer value growth over profit. Our employees no longer value options over stability. We are in an industry that needs to make dramatic changes to reinvent itself over the next decade.
When I gave this presentation at Enterprise 2005, I asked the 100-plus software CEOs assembled if they felt their company's best opportunity would be to be acquired by Oracle. No one raised their hand. Then I asked who wanted to leave their software company to run an auto supply business because that industry has more upside? Only a few hands went up.
To me, those responses mean there is still a tremendous amount of hope in the industry. There are exciting new developments - in technology and business practices - that will lead to significant new market opportunities in the next few years. Here are ten trends which will lead to those possibilities.
1) Consolidate or Be Consolidated
There is a perception in the industry that 'Darwin's Law' applies: You must acquire or be acquired. This isn't quite the case. Oracle is almost done with its acquisition frenzy. The high valuations they caused are not going to apply to most other vendors.
If you want to be the acquirer, you need acqui"
10 New Opportunities for Software Vendors
The confluence of new technologies, emerging business models and globalization leads to big business prospects for software companies.
Romesh Wadhwani, Symphony Technology Group
Aug 12, 05
We are in an industry that is having trouble coming to grips with reality.
Software companies thought for a long time that our industry could defy gravity and experience double-digit revenue growth forever.
The truth is that our customers no longer value cutting-edge technology over business results. Our investors no longer value growth over profit. Our employees no longer value options over stability. We are in an industry that needs to make dramatic changes to reinvent itself over the next decade.
When I gave this presentation at Enterprise 2005, I asked the 100-plus software CEOs assembled if they felt their company's best opportunity would be to be acquired by Oracle. No one raised their hand. Then I asked who wanted to leave their software company to run an auto supply business because that industry has more upside? Only a few hands went up.
To me, those responses mean there is still a tremendous amount of hope in the industry. There are exciting new developments - in technology and business practices - that will lead to significant new market opportunities in the next few years. Here are ten trends which will lead to those possibilities.
1) Consolidate or Be Consolidated
There is a perception in the industry that 'Darwin's Law' applies: You must acquire or be acquired. This isn't quite the case. Oracle is almost done with its acquisition frenzy. The high valuations they caused are not going to apply to most other vendors.
If you want to be the acquirer, you need acqui"
SandHill.com | Management | Insight from Enterprise 2005
SandHill.com | Management | Insight from Enterprise 2005: "'What keeps you up at night?'
After gathering demographic data, the first question asked by host M.R. Rangaswami was 'what keeps you up at night?' Revenue growth was cited by 76%, followed by profitability (15%), competition (5%), and survival (5%). I expected revenue growth to be a top choice, but was surprised that it was five times that of profitability given the financial community's emphasis on making money.
The next question looked at the 2006 growth rate for the software industry. "
After gathering demographic data, the first question asked by host M.R. Rangaswami was 'what keeps you up at night?' Revenue growth was cited by 76%, followed by profitability (15%), competition (5%), and survival (5%). I expected revenue growth to be a top choice, but was surprised that it was five times that of profitability given the financial community's emphasis on making money.
The next question looked at the 2006 growth rate for the software industry. "
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
SandHill.com | Management | Software Intrigue
SandHill.com | Management | Software Intrigue: "SEC Takes Action Against Former i2 Execs
Bruce Richardson
Aug 08, 05
On July 15th, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed suit against three former officers of i2 Technologies. (Read the SEC complaint here. Read down to page 11 and beyond for the more interesting details, including text from email transcripts about 'selling vapor' and allegations about relationships with Nike, Best Buy and K-mart.) The executives include Greg Brady, former president and CEO; William Beecher, former executive vice president and CFO; and Reagan Lancaster, former president of worldwide operations. "
Bruce Richardson
Aug 08, 05
On July 15th, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed suit against three former officers of i2 Technologies. (Read the SEC complaint here. Read down to page 11 and beyond for the more interesting details, including text from email transcripts about 'selling vapor' and allegations about relationships with Nike, Best Buy and K-mart.) The executives include Greg Brady, former president and CEO; William Beecher, former executive vice president and CFO; and Reagan Lancaster, former president of worldwide operations. "
Monday, August 01, 2005
SandHill.com | Engineering | Navigating Software�s �New World�
SandHill.com | Engineering | Navigating Software�s �New World�: "Navigating Software�s �New World�
The combination of globalization and open source spells opportunity for the software industry.
Kim Polese, SpikeSource
Jul 28, 05
Strange things are happening in the technology business today. In the global economy, the power of nations and corporate conglomerates is giving way to that of individuals and small businesses. At the same time, IT customers are reticent to buy, vendors are merging, and new technologies and business models are taking hold.
Today's software startups - and established vendors - need to navigate these new waters carefully, by understanding the net impact of globalization, innovation and consolidation on the software business.
Thomas L. Friedman's best-seller, The World is Flat, lays out the landscape in which businesses are operating today.
CLICK TITLE ABOVE FOR FULL ARTICLE"
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