Open source software is produced for many reasons, which typically do not include direct money making. The particular set of reasons is a matter of some debate, but it is obvious from the quantity of open source software available that significant reasons exist. Because open source competitors do not rely on profit they can exist (and even thrive) when the commercial market is dominated by a monopoly.

KEY DETAILS
Time: 0930 onwards
Date: March 14, 2009
Venue: Chennai Trade Center
City: Chennai

CONTENT PLAN

• 1000 - 1030hrs: Falling in Love with FOSS
  (Highlight: A 14-year-old shares his reasons for getting his hands dirty with FOSS)
  
  
• 1030 - 1100hrs:  Why we bet on open source for our IT management
  Gautam Sinha, CTO, Times Business Solutions
  
  
• 1100 - 1145hrs: Free as in Freedom Distros
  
  
• 1145 - 1230hrs: Desktop of the Future, Now!
  
  
• 1230 - 1300hrs: Lunch
  
  
• 1315 - 1400hrs: The Roles LUGs play
  
  
• 1400 - 1430hrs: How the community can keep vital projects Open -- the story of Compiere and ADempiere
  
  
• 1430 - 1530hrs: FOSS in Asia
  
  
• 1530 - 1600hrs: Where and why we use FOSS
  
  
• 1600 - 1700hrs: Career Trends
  

FOCUS AREA

• Desktop Applications & Tools
• Careers with FOSS

THE BUZZ
Why does a user of proprietary software products benefit from open source development? Essentially, if there exists a reasonable open source alternative to a proprietary product, then there is another limit to the amount that proprietary monopoly can charge. The threat of a customer switching from the proprietary product to an open source product limits the maximum price that monopoly can charge. Since open source products are nearly free, this new limit can be a significant one.

Proprietary software users benefit a great deal from open source development. Open source users benefit even more. The only nonbenefitors of open source development are the holders of monopolies.


WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Practically everyone, hence it's called FOSS for Everyone :-)