I came across an article titled "Open Source Apps Broadening the Human Resources World" http://www.technewsworld.com/story/52761.html that begins with the introduction: <quote> Software is ultimately composed of congealed ideas, so ideas are very important in the minds of software developers. The key to market power in the software industry lies in the minds of developers. Fashion plays a role too; some ideas are fashionable and some are not. The idea, or philosophy, of open source is powerful, frictionless, and seductive. </quote> The article highlights an important advantage available *currently* with free software: <quote> OSS developers benefit from a reduction in the friction-to-idea exchange that commercial enterprises engender through the use of lawyers, contracts, and payments. They experiment with new tools immediately instead of paying for legally licensed access to technologies. OSS is winning the minds of developers -- and that is precious real estate </quote> Would the GPLv3 take away the advantage? I don't know, but time will tell. A gentle warning has already been issued: http://www.law.duke.edu/journals/dltr/articles/2003dltr0023.html <quote> The [US] Supreme Court spoke clearly to clarify the relationship between copyright and trademark law, cautioning against an extension of trademark law into an area covered by copyright law. Understanding this relationship is of great value to writers, artists, and creators; for Fox and the other respondents in this case, that understanding came at a price of $1.6 million. </quote> If the free software community could see the distinction, it may make room for more widespread growth and adoption. Of course, not understanding means a kind of self destruction that is not really deserved.