@BigD

The source code is not the most valuable thing, it is perhaps not even worth much in itself. The valuable things are the people, their interest and what they can and want to do with the Amiga, and the trademarks as they make it possible to brand a product.

Even if AmigaOS is open source, the trademarks would not be. What you can do is sell properly branded products, even with open source. If you want to make a Vampire standalone computer, you can brand it an Amiga with logo and everything. It could even run AmigaOS and Cloanto would earn royalties on it. Yes, you can make your own home made anonymous system without breaking any laws (if you do not call it or label it an Amiga). But given the choice of buying a properly branded ready to use computer for some more, what would you pick? Many would pay a little more to get the genuine product.

You can even sell software upgrades, it contains a ROM, floppies with branded stickers, perhaps even in a box with a manual. Some will just build it from source. But not everyone can burn a ROMs and duplicating the stickers with trademarks is illegal. Just see Worthy, people pay to get the box!

Open source would bring interest and increased interest means larger volumes of sales. Even though you do not earn a lot on each single sale, growing volumes mean increased total revenue and the extra cost for doing that is small.

We have seen what this closed mentality has taken us so far. Do you think more of that is going to suddenly change things into success?

I have already moved to AROS because of the situation, as it is open source. Much more fun for me and it is largely CPU agnostic as well. I do not need AmigaOS in open source, but I would welcome such move. If it stays closed, so be it, it will not change anything for me.

I believe Cloanto is smart enough to realize the possibilities here and that the most important thing is to grow the eco-system long term, not maximize or milk short term revenue. You just have to find a model to get enough revenue now, then fine-tune the machinery to spin faster and smother.