Hackers - it's your Research & Development division

After reading this summary on how Sony is particularly inclined to conflict with the community of hackers, I link to this post on a success story with a totally opposite spirit.

And I wonder: when you release a product and there are fans willing to extend, add functionality, increase the hype and sales, how can you sue them ?

It is Research & Development, can't you see ?

Because, let's face it, an active and passionate community of hackers is a real department of research and development.

Sometimes much more efficient than the 'corporate' one. Even better of any Innovation Time Off, if I may dare ..

1. They are many, they are different. They have different mentalities, they think differently, they speak many languages. It is difficult to set up a department more diverse and thus more creative.
   
   
2. They are passionate. They work all hours. At night, with their own instruments, without pay. Do you think your employees will do the same ?
   
   
3. They are smart.Many of them are much more brilliant than many 'corporate' engineers. And it is a lively intelligence, creative, very suitable for research.
   
   
4. Low cost. They work for free. They buy the products. Sometimes adversely affect the licensing and copyright, of course. But it is a damage that pays for itself with increased sales.
   
   
5. They really use the product. Many companies claim the famous saying 'eat your own dog food'. But they don't do it. If they did, they made ​​better products. Other companies do not even know what they are their own products. Hackers use them, really. They know them well. They love them. Who better than them can improve these products ?
   

In short, I would like to have products targeted by hackers. War ? Sue ? Are you kidding ? Cheers !

What do you think?


[this post is a lazy and cheap translation of the original one, in italian language]