Vendor Lock-in - Avoiding Vendor Lock-in For Computer Software

Avoiding Vendor Lock-in For Computer Software

In the 1980s and 1990s, public, royalty-free standards were hailed as the best solution to vendor lock-in. But there is still a possibility that one software vendor could use "embrace, extend and extinguish" (EEE) tactics to achieve a dominant market share, which could render the standard obsolete. The history of SQL is an archetypal example.

Since the late 1990s, the use of free and open source software (FOSS) has arisen as a stronger solution. Because FOSS can be modified and distributed by anyone, the availability of functionality usually cannot tie a user to one distributor. The ineffectiveness of distributor lock-in means there's no incentive for FOSS developers to invent redundant new data formats if usable (royalty-free) standards exist.

In particular, copylefted FOSS is in some respects particularly resistant to the above mentioned "EEE" tactics since anyone distributing modified versions cannot legally prevent free or competing redistribution of the modifications and their source code. It is also, however, particularly well suited to those tactics in other respects, such as in competition with non-copyleft free and open source software.