In case you missed it, Bruce Byfield has a very interesting essay posted on the history of FOSS, and it includes some interesting thoughts on where free, open source software is headed. You can find the essay here. In Byfield's essay, he provides a historical account of the growth of the open source movement, ranging from the development of infrastructure software such as Apache to the growth in sophistication of open source licenses. But it's his thoughts on how open source can increasingly mean more to businesses that are really eye-catching.
Byfield notes this:
"Business and FOSS have become increasingly close allies in the last decade, with many companies or executives becoming heavily involved in the community. Today, FOSS appeals to venture capitalists and business executives in several ways. It is now seen as a source of disruptive technologies, potentially risky investments, but ones that, if successful, can mean a greater return on investment."
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