The document discusses business models for commercial open source companies. It provides an overview of business models, the open source community, services, and software licensing. It then discusses background information on business models, ecosystems, and partnerships in the software industry. Finally, it outlines the commercial open source business model and how open source benefits both customers and commercial software vendors.

1. Business Models for
Commercial Open Source
Companies
Dr. Karl Popp
http://www.drkarlpopp.com
Version 1.4 7/31/2011
Copyright © 2011 Dr. Karl Popp http://WWW.DRKARLPOPP.COM

2. Overview
• Business Models overview
• Open Source community
• Services
• Software Licensing
Copyright © 2011 Dr. Karl Popp http://WWW.DRKARLPOPP.COM

3. Background information
Business Models, Ecosystems and Partnerships
in the software industry
Profit from Software
Ecosystems
ISBN-13: 978-3842300514
Examples from over 50
software companies
Copyright © 2011 Dr. Karl Popp http://WWW.DRKARLPOPP.COM

4. Commercial Open Source Business Model
Type of Products/Services
offered
Financia Physica Intangi Huma
l l ble n
Creato Entrepr Manufa Invent n/a
r eneur cturer or
Distrib Financia Wholes IP n/a
utor l aler, distri
trader Retaile butor
r
Lessor Financia Physica IP Contr
l
More details here: l lesso ac-
http://www.mindbites.com/lesson/13903
lessor lessor
-software-business-model-basics r tor
Copyright © 2011 Dr. Karl Popp http://WWW.DRKARLPOPP.COM

5. Commercial Open Source Business Model
• Software vendors can create different
Invent business models for open source
or • Starting with services (consulting,
IP maintenance, support) at the bottom
distri additional business models can be
butor added:
IP – IP Lessor: commercial licenses can be
sold to customers
lesso
– IP distributors: distribute open source
r software
– Inventor: create software
Contr
actor
Copyright © 2011 Dr. Karl Popp http://WWW.DRKARLPOPP.COM

6. OPEN SOURCE
COMMUNITY BUSINESS
Copyright © 2011 Dr. Karl Popp http://WWW.DRKARLPOPP.COM

7. Open Source for customers and
for commercial software vendors
Provide Open Source
Open Source Open Software Community as
Community Source vendor
Software
supplier
Provide Open Source
Open Source Open
Customer Community as
Community Source
Software
software
vendor
Copyright © 2011 Dr. Karl Popp http://WWW.DRKARLPOPP.COM