The recent trend of companies changing their open-source licenses to solve business challenges has sparked controversy within the open-source community. In this video, Ann Schlemmer, CEO of Percona, discusses the impact these changes have on users and the community, why companies should reconsider before changing licenses, and the benefits of open source. She says, “I just think it’s a better way because you have that intellectual curiosity, you can be competitors and collaborators all at the same time, and it gives you a richness to be able to really grow upon.”

The benefits of open source and concerns over licensing changes

• Schlemmer argues that new companies should choose open source as their collaborative model because it fosters intellectual curiosity, allows for simultaneous competition and collaboration, and offers rich growth opportunities.
• Schlemmer is concerned about companies that start with open source but later change their licenses once they grow. She feels such actions damage users’ and the community’s trust and undermine open-source guidelines.

The power of community in open source

• Projects like Valkey and OpenTofu reflect a shift toward community ownership in open source. Schlemmer believes Linux Foundation’s approach of letting communities decide is appropriate, suggesting it could mark a new model.
• Schlemmer explains Percona’s involvement in the Valkey community to offer commercial support so that people can continue to rely on that database.
• Schlemmer discusses whether recent events like OpenTofu will discourage companies from using license changes to solve business challenges. Some stakeholders may underestimate the power of open-source communities.
• Stakeholders considering changing licenses should try to understand users’ needs and concerns and engage with the community. Ultimately, the financial consequences of these decisions will determine its success.

How should new companies decide whether to go the open-source or proprietary route?

• Companies that just go straight to the option of proprietary have the potential to impact open source and erode the trust. Schlemmer shares her advice for companies starting out to decide whether to go the open-source route.
• Schlemmer highlights the widespread adoption of open source across industries and its role in driving global economic impact. She explains how open source fosters innovation and collaboration.
• Schlemmer encourages new companies to embrace open source’s potential, concluding that it is the winning choice for those who believe in its principles and benefits.

Guest: Ann Schlemmer (LinkedIn)
Company: Percona (Twitter)
Show: Let’s Talk

This summary was written by Emily Nicholls.