How Red Hat killed its core product—and became a billion-dollar business (Article Review #2)

Article Title

"How Red Hat killed its core product—and became a billion-dollar business "

Article Author

Jon Brodkin

Article Publication Date

February 28, 2012

URL of Original Article

http://arstechnica.com/business/news/2012/02/how-red-hat-killed-its-core-productand-became-a-billion-dollar-business.ars

Article Summary

Red Hat, a Linux developer used to make free, open source software. Under the direction of a new VP of engineering, the company stopped putting out free products and is now turning over a handsome profit, and staying viable. 

Relevance to the Class

A company that still values its customers while making the decision to begin charging for a previously free product, and has to rebrand their product, handle the customer reaction and manage their expectations

Key Quote

"It should replace Red Hat Linux with a more robust enterprise software package that maintained the principles of free (as in freedom) software without actually being free (as in price) to customers."