This document discusses how to become rich and famous through open source software by attracting users and developers, and outlines various business models for monetizing open source projects including services, dual licensing, and creating added value products. It notes that choosing open source allows for social impact, helps customers avoid lock-in, and helps attract talent from the open source community.

1. Become rich & famous
thanks to
open source
Jérémie Fays
University of Liege – Interface Entreprises (KTO)

2. 1. Become famous
2. Become rich
Plan
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3. 9
1. Become famous

4. There’s more to OS than this!

5. 3 prerequisites
Use a version control system
(Git…)
Choose an OS distribution license
Determine an Open Source Policy
▸ Authorized licenses
▸ Banned licenses
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6. Attract users
1. Use a code repository (Github…), and
package a first release
2. User documentation (english first)
3. Forum
4. Issue tracker
5. “How to contribute”
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7. Attract developpers
1. Developper documentation
2. Code quality
3. Plugin structure / API
13

8. Spend energy !
…to communicate on your project
…to answer users questions
…to manage developpers contributions
…to calm trolls
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9. 2. Become rich

10. Open source has won !

11. RedHat
Revenue 2017 : 3 billions $
Microsoft: 90 billions $
Adobe: 7 billions $

12. OS licenses
Permissive Strong copyleft
Super Strong
copyleft
MIT
BSD
Apache
GPL AGPL
@author
Source code
open
Trigger:
distribution
Source code
open
Trigger:
available

13. Business models

14. Services
Installation
Maintenance, support
SLA’s

15. Services
Cloud (SaaS)

16. Services
Training, audit, consulting
Tailored development
Authorized partners

17. Alternative
Sponsoring
Download subscription
Donation

18. Dual licensing
Proprietary compatible
Enhanced pro version

19. Added Value products
Documentation
Additional software
Hardware

20. « Customer pooling »
Propose specifications
Pool customers to share costs

21. Transfer (Spin-offs...)
Revenues for the licensor (lab) ?
Transfer proprietary à dual-license
Transfer TM àAuthorized partners
Research collaborations

22. No license fees !
Frightening for most investors
Risk to have competitors copying your
software
Energy for managing the community
Risk of fork
3. Why choose Open Source ?

23. Social impact !
Call for tenders in public sector (France)
Value for customers
▸ Try before you buy
▸ Audit code
▸ Avoid lock-in
▸ Possibility to develop custom features
Mature “proprietary” market
Attract talents
Get help from the community
3. Why choose Open Source ?

24. Thanks for not sleeping too obviously !
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Jérémie Fays
j.fays@uliege.be
+32 4 349 85 21
www.linkedin.com/in/jeremiefays
Interface Entreprises
Espace Eurêka – LIEGE science park
Avenue Pré-Aily, 4 • 4031 Liège
+32 4 349 85 10
www.recherche.uliege.be
Liège
Arlon
Gembloux