“We estimate the supply-side value of widely-used OSS is $4.15 billion, but that the demand-side value is much larger at $8.8 trillion. We find that firms would need to spend 3.5 times more on software than they currently do if OSS did not exist.”
Sounds about right. Unfortunately, once one guy gives away the farm,
everyone else must follow suit to compete. Say what you will about
Microsoft in their 90s heyday. At least they took your money
with your eyes open as opposed to Google's freebie baiting.