Business

Recap: Open Your World webcast with Joseph Reagle, author of Good Faith Collaboration

What differentiates Wikipedia from other reference books where you have no idea of the process that went into them is that the Wikipedia encyclopedia is an artifact of an active community. A large one, in fact, with about 41,000 contributors editing five or more times a month and 1,000 active administrators. The "Wiki" part has its origins with Ward Cunningham, who saw it on the "Wiki Wiki Shuttle Bus" at the Honolulu airport. » Read more

attachments: 
application/ogg iconAudio of Reagle's webcast
4 CommentsPosted 21 Oct 2010 by Ruth Suehle (Red Hat)

Apple, Google, and the open vs. closed positioning war

Over the last few months, the battle to define the meaning of the word "open" has intensified into one of the more interesting brand positioning exercises I've seen in the technology industry (if you aren't familiar with brand positioning and would like to learn more, consider starting here).

I thought I'd do a quick report from the front lines, diving in specifically to examine the battle for smartphone leadership, and looking at things from a brand positioning strategy perspective. » Read more

9 CommentsPosted 20 Oct 2010 by Chris Grams

Profitable digital content: It's all about the value

Last weekend, I rented a movie through YouTube.

In the interest of full disclosure, I suppose I should tell you straight away that I don't own a television. I sold mine seven years ago, after the year 2003 saw the debut of Nashville Star, The O.C., Fame, and some train-wreck reality show starring Jessica Simpson and her then-husband Nick Lachey.

These days, my knowledge of television programming comes from disparate half-hours spent on the treadmill at the gym. I catch bits and pieces of shows like Law & Order, Hannah Montana, The Dr. Oz Show, One Tree Hill, The Doctors, and The Dr. Phil Show. (Who hired all the doctors, and am I the only one who wonders how many drinks the talent scout had when he signed Miley Cyrus?)
» Read more

2 CommentsPosted 20 Oct 2010 by Rebecca Fernandez (Red Hat)

Poll: Guess how many people contribute to Wikipedia

Find out the answer on Thursday, October 21 at 1:00pm (EDT) at the Open Your World webcast on "Good Faith Collaboration at Wikipedia" featuring Joseph Reagle. Register now, seating is limited.

0 CommentsPosted 18 Oct 2010 by Jason Hibbets (Red Hat)

A community-building perspective on the Gap logo controversy

Over the last week, a handful of folks have reached out and asked me what I think about the events surrounding the launch, then crowdsourcing, then full repeal of the new Gap logo (if you haven't already heard the story, catch up here). » Read more

1 CommentPosted 14 Oct 2010 by Chris Grams

Mobile phone mashups: Imitation becomes innovation in China

For those of us born after 1965 it's hard to believe, but Americans once viewed Japanese cars much like they do today's products with a “made in China” label: cheap, low-quality, possibly dangerous, and likely a knockoff of a better product.
» Read more

0 CommentsPosted 8 Oct 2010 by Rebecca Fernandez (Red Hat)

Five questions about open innovation, open source, and NASA with Molly Dix of RTI

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet Molly Dix and Jeff Cope, who run the Open Innovation Advisory Services group at RTI. For those not familiar with RTI, it is one of the world's preeminent research institutes, founded by a group of scientists in 1958 and now employing almost 3000 people helping businesses and governments in more than 40 countries around the world. » Read more

4 CommentsPosted 6 Oct 2010 by Chris Grams

TEDx branding: A legal point of view

My friend and former colleague Chris Grams recently wrote a great article on the topic of extending the TED brand by allowing anyone to organize their own TED conference under “TEDx” branding. Chris posits that trademark law may be standing in the way of successful branding in today's business environment, where brands and brand affinity are built through community engagement rather than through top-down, owner-driven brand strategy.

I couldn't agree more. » Read more

2 CommentsPosted 5 Oct 2010 by Pam Chestek

Wipeout! Google Wave's inevitable crash

Well, it seems that Google Wave isn't quite dead yet after all. Turns out, they're open sourcing a bit more of the project and asking for collaboration. (Ok, someone to take over.)

I can't be the only geek who immediately thought of Monty Python and the Holy Grail upon reading the announcement. » Read more

5 CommentsPosted 4 Oct 2010 by Rebecca Fernandez (Red Hat)

Transparency, participation, and collaboration: The distinguishing principles of open source

I believe that, over time, Jaspersoft’s distinction will be less about it being an open source software company and more about its abilities as a great business intelligence software company. I expect declining distinction for our open source-ness will partly occur because the success of open source software and the benefit it brings the community and customers become better accepted and understood each year (and, therefore, less unique). I also believe that the most valuable aspect of the open source model will long endure, way after the sheen fades from the download, forum post, or roadmap voting. That is, the principles of open source software are its most distinguishing characteristic and will eventually reach not just all technology companies, but all other industries as well.

» Read more

1 CommentPosted 30 Sep 2010 by Brian Gentile