Open Source Hardware, Exploring how Industry Regulation Affects Knowledge Commons Governance: An Exploratory Case Study

Tools for clinical examination have not fundamentally evolved since the invention of stethoscope by René Laennec in nineteenth century. However, three decades ago, medical community started to consider repurposing ultrasound scanners improve physical examinations. A broad healthcare professionals trained new paradigm could be created due very high price portable available on market. In this paper, we study an Open-Source Hardware (OSH) that aims diagnosis hospitals and medically underserved areas worldwide. They are designing echo-stethoscope – a scanner would affordable low middle-income countries. The variety expertise pooled achieve objective puts knowledge common (KC) at crossroads open-source software (OSS), OSH, communities. Unlike typical KC outcomes, probe is object. Development innovation world bring social dilemmas has overcome, restrictions terms openness, case, unintended privatization. Our uses governing framework (GKCF), modified institutional analysis development framework, untangle interactions between resources, participants, governance structures. research describes why how creation object subject industry regulation influences evolution KC. We provide evidence temporary privatization can used as way protect sustain during industrialization phase. also demonstrate portfolio projects effective resilient help survive step.