Free/Open Source Software

This position paper provides an overview of the Open Source Software movement and defines how companies can approach, exploit, and learn from it. More specifically, this position paper will first provide the needed details on Open Source licensing models – a key element to be aware of in order to safely approach Open Source. Then, it will provide motivating rationales for getting involved in Open Source software production. It will define a reference innovation model which might be used as a basis for Open Source projects, along with a few suggestions on how to protect Intellectual Properties associated to Open Source Projects. Key Points. After reading this document you will learn about the following key points:  Free/Open Source (F/OSS) Software does not mean free as in “free beer” but free as in “free speech”. This means that F/OSS can, and it is not rare, be commercialized.  F/OSS is a term referred to software which is licensed according to one of the licenses approved and maintained by the Open Source Initiative (OSI).  GNU Public License (GPL) and Lesser/Library GPL (LGPL) are the two most common licensing schemes applied to F/OSS. The key concepts of these licensing model are based on the copyright law and are thus strongly based on derivative work.  The GPL license is typically referred as viral, while the LGPL is typically safe w.r.t. proprietary SW. This document highlights under which circumstances the GPL licensed SW contaminates proprietary SW.  Depending on (1) the interactions of proprietary developed software and F/OSS, and (2) on the F/OSS license, then, some parts of the proprietary developed software might be licensed as Open Source– however, this does not mean that sources have to be provided for free, i.e., a fee might be charged.  The Open Source paradigm enables and promotes user-driven innovation and its underlying innovation model – the private/collective innovation model – can be used as a model for enterprise innovation.  Open Source is not naïve as it provides some effective means for intellectual property and assets protections. Executives Roadmap. The document is organized into three different sections. Section 1 provides a historical overview of the F/OSS movement. Section 2 explains the F/OSS licensing models, and Section 3 provides an Innovation model which can be used in Open Source projects. Depending on your immediate needs and interest the document can be read all at once, or at different times following the roadmap outlined below:  Understand F/OSS Licensing – Read Section 1 and 2.  Innovation Models for F/OSS – Read Section 3.