The Story Behind 'Free to Use' - Understanding Open Source
Why Some Technology Is Free
The square pattern is free because Denso Wave chose not to enforce its patent. This 'share rather than monopolize' philosophy is called open source in the IT world, and it underpins the modern internet.
What Is Open Source
Open source means publishing software blueprints (source code) for anyone to use, modify, and redistribute. Like sharing a recipe. Linux, Android, Firefox, and WordPress are all open source - free, continuously improved by global developers.
3 Motivations for Free Release
1. Adoption: wide use maximizes value. 2. Improvement: global developers find bugs and add features faster than any single company. 3. Trust: visible code means verifiable behavior, crucial for security software.
Open Source Business Models
Free software, paid support (Red Hat earns billions). Freemium (basic free, advanced paid). Talent recruitment through open source contributions. Google, Meta, Microsoft all contribute strategically.
Making it public raises quality
Technology released for free tends to be thought inferior in quality, but in reality the opposite is not rare. When the design and contents are in a state anyone can see, people around the world can inspect it and find and point out weaknesses and defects. By being exposed to many eyes, hidden problems are found early and improvements accumulate. A flaw that only some people can notice in a closed state is noticed by someone if it is open. Making it public, while seeming like an act of exposing weakness, is actually a foundation that hardens technology and nurtures trust.
The strength of spreading as a standard
Technology released in a form anyone can freely use does not stay the possession of a specific company, but easily spreads as a common rule everyone follows, that is, as a standard. When it becomes a standard, because various products and services are made on the premise of the same mechanism, they connect easily with each other, and it becomes convenient for users too. Conversely, technology that, however excellent, a single company fences in loses its place to go if that company changes policy or withdraws. Being open is a large strength for technology to keep being used widely for a long time.
You Already Benefit
Android is open source. Safari's WebKit engine is open source. Internet protocols, web rendering, databases - most internet infrastructure is open source. The free pattern embodies the same spirit: sharing increases total value.