This was a lightning talk I gave at OSCON. Basically, trying to establish why the Open Cloud Initiative is necessary.

1. Is FOSS Necessary?

2. Hi. I'm John Mark. I have
opinions.

3. In a services world...

4. The interface is everything

5. Interfaces can hide / reveal

6. Interfaces can allow / deny

7. Interfaces can lock you in...

8. ...or they can grant you
freedom

9. ...but they don't have to

10. It's not in an interface's
immediate interest to grant
you more freedom

11. ie. make it easier for you to
leave.

12. In fact, it's exactly the
opposite

13. So, about free software

14. Does FOSS change this
dynamic?

15. If free software is behind the
interface...

16. You're still at the discretion
of the interface

17. The interface doesn't care
what's running behind it

18. ...or in front of it

19. The interface doesn't care if
your last name is Stallman...

20. ...or Peters

21. ...or DiBona

22. Dude...

23. The interface is a friggin'
robot...

24. With laser beams comin' out
of its friggin' eyeballs...

25. In this scenario, free software
doesn't matter

26. At least not in the way we
currently think about it

27. Hi. I have opinions.

28. Like any robot, the interface
is only as good as its creator

29. Or crappy.
Choose your comparison.

30. What if service providers
were compelled to be more
free?

31. “By what?” you may ask.

32. By rules. Rules about data,
service and API portability.

33. OMG! Free markets! Are you
some kind of commie? DFH!
DFH!”

34. Dude. Rules are everywhere.

35. Rules make for stronger,
viable, sustainable
ecosystems.

36. And rules are not necessarily
anti-business.

37. Japanese automakers
voluntarily added new safety
features in the 80's

38. ...even though it added to the
cost of production

39. Did they go out of business?
Lose market share?

40. No. In fact, they kicked ass.

41. In 1998, free software
economy participants
published rules of
engagement, known as the
Open Source Definition

42. ...And it was a disaster. I
mean, nobody uses Open
Source. Clearly, rules are bad
for business.

43. Er... um... ok, that's not what
happened.

44. Hi. I have opinions.

45. When some segment of
industry or a particular
company bitches about new
rules and regulations...

46. You need to check the source
and their motivations

47. Because they're often wrong.

48. So when I say that we need
rules to govern data, service
and API portability...

49. Pay close attention to those
who don't agree.

50. So no, FOSS, as we currently
know it, is not enough.

51. But something like FOSS....

52. Something that recognizes
the rights of all participants...

53. Something that recognizes
what is needed to establish a
viable ecosystem...

54. ...is necessary

55. Because if there's one thing
we've learned...

56. ...it's that good rules don't
grow on trees.

57. ...and neither do sustainable
systems.

58. They happen because a lot of
good people work really hard
to make them happen

59. And that is why I support...

60. The Open Cloud Principles
and the Open Cloud Initiative

61. Open Interfaces
Open Formats
Open Data
Open Source

62. Open Interfaces → Open
protocols, open API

63. Open Formats → ODF, Atom

64. Open Data → CC licenses,
open knowledge

65. Open Source → Oh, come on

66. http://www.opencloudinitiative.org/