How does Open Source affect the future of the software industry? Is the future of software primarily open source? Has Open Source "won"? Do we need to promote Open Source more? Instead of focusing on the technical details about open source should we concentrate on the bigger broader picture of society and DRM and the debate about re-mixing, and future of music, video and art on the internet?

These and other topics were the focus of the Future of Free and Open Software panel which was held as a free event open to the public as part of the Vancouver PHP 2007 conference. I really enjoyed the discussion. We're lucky to have FOSS experts in Vancouver like David Ascher and Zak Greant and Bruce Byfield who have a worldwide reputation, know everybody in the community and can get them out to the Vancouver PHP conference which has attracted experts from around the world as well as our great local talent.

Check out the Google Video for the first 42 minutes of the panel.