I've been casually following the discussion between Sun and NetApp about various file system patents and ZFS and happened upon a blog about it that had a fantastic quote on the value of open source.

"Just as New York's public Central Park makes all the private property around it more valuable, public open source communities and foundational software only enrich innovation and the markets for new products."

This is a great metaphor I hadn't seen used in this way but hits the nail on the head. Open source isn't just about taking one's closed source code and making it available in the "open" (that would be Visible Source), rather it is developing and innovating in the community which benefits many.

This is exactly what we are doing in Project Open ESB as we are developing in collaboration with the community and there are many non-Sun organizations and individuals that are committers in the project. Come take a look and join us.