Comments on: Should I say or should I Joel? http://www.adamduvander.com/simple/should-i-say-or-should-i-joel Adam DuVander’s thoughts on keeping things simple. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:03:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Simplicity Rules » Open Source Start-up http://www.adamduvander.com/simple/should-i-say-or-should-i-joel/comment-page-1#comment-19 Simplicity Rules » Open Source Start-up Tue, 10 Apr 2007 17:08:11 +0000 http://yamhill.adamduvander.com/news/should-i-say-or-should-i-joel#comment-19 [...] With most people being secretive and spending lots of energy worrying about their ideas, it’s nice to see a couple guys doing it open. Of course, they have some ground rules and they aren’t going to be giving away the farm, but the intent to be transparent follows their mission, and should help them–and others. Best of luck, guys! [...] [...] With most people being secretive and spending lots of energy worrying about their ideas, it’s nice to see a couple guys doing it open. Of course, they have some ground rules and they aren’t going to be giving away the farm, but the intent to be transparent follows their mission, and should help them–and others. Best of luck, guys! [...]

]]> By: Jon http://www.adamduvander.com/simple/should-i-say-or-should-i-joel/comment-page-1#comment-18 Jon Mon, 27 Jun 2005 20:59:00 +0000 http://yamhill.adamduvander.com/news/should-i-say-or-should-i-joel#comment-18 I deal with this with my clients often, too, and eespecially if your new product is tied to a new idea, the more secrecy, the better. Patents are important to obtain, but there's no way you can possibly patent it all--there are always loopholes. Thus, if you can keep mum while spreading buzz that it'll be big, your less-ingenius competitors can't start breaking down your patent and creating their own similar products. Look at the iPod Shuffle, for example. It seemed like the very next day after its release they had competition from hack houses in Asia, and even LG and Sony soon released their own. Secrecy can often mean holding onto #1 for even another week. And that week can be huge for you. But in web applications, especially 'open' ones, that isn't a concern. There can be great benefit in "seatec astronomy" (no more secrets, watch your Sneakers). I wouldn't think it would make sense for you, Adam, but like you said, for shrinkwrapped product, it's vital... if nothing else, than to prevent what's happening with MS right now and their embarrassing Longhorn setbacks. If no one knew, no one would know how late they are. I deal with this with my clients often, too, and eespecially if your new product is tied to a new idea, the more secrecy, the better. Patents are important to obtain, but there’s no way you can possibly patent it all–there are always loopholes. Thus, if you can keep mum while spreading buzz that it’ll be big, your less-ingenius competitors can’t start breaking down your patent and creating their own similar products. Look at the iPod Shuffle, for example. It seemed like the very next day after its release they had competition from hack houses in Asia, and even LG and Sony soon released their own.

Secrecy can often mean holding onto #1 for even another week. And that week can be huge for you.

But in web applications, especially ‘open’ ones, that isn’t a concern. There can be great benefit in “seatec astronomy” (no more secrets, watch your Sneakers). I wouldn’t think it would make sense for you, Adam, but like you said, for shrinkwrapped product, it’s vital… if nothing else, than to prevent what’s happening with MS right now and their embarrassing Longhorn setbacks. If no one knew, no one would know how late they are.

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