Date of Award

2012

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Coe, Richard

Keywords

Open Source, Economics, Linux, Apache, Mozilla, Licensing, Creative Commons, Free Rider, Intrinsic Motivation

Area of Concentration

Economics

Abstract

This paper addresses the open source development model of information goods production. Features of its non-proprietary and free nature appear to clash with economic and legal assumptions, so this paper aims to reconcile them by reflecting a paradigmatic shift in intellectual property ownership and use, sparked by the user-innovators called hackers. Contrary to the notion of creating more incentives by restricting intellectual property, rights in a collaborative and modern information goods economy can be overly restrictive and reduce production, leading us to consider alternative ownership styles with software as a public good. As open source communities evolve, altruistic motives give way to other intrinsic motivations such as enjoyment and learning, transforming antagonism towards commercial enterprise into healthy competition of similar-quality products. Not surprisingly, governments show increasing interest in the open source sector, both as an alternative product and a production and innovation model. This paper argues that governments and economists should not reject open source out of hand, for although on its face threatening, open source is an example of creative destruction that commercial firms have adapted to and now contribute to.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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