http://www.umass.edu/polsci/youtube/jitp2010.pdf JITP-2010 “The Politics of Open Source” May 6-7, 2010 - Amherst, Massachusetts Full Paper Submission Due Date: January 10, 2010 Approach Free/Libre and Open Source Software (FOSS) has made significant advances, both technically and organizationally, since its emergence in the mid-1980s. Over the last decade, it has moved from a software development approach involving mostly volunteers to a more complex ecology where firms, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and volunteers may be involved. Moreover, the production paradigm continues to expand to other areas of digital content (e.g., Creative Commons, Wikipedia, Connexions, etc.). In this conference we use the phrase “open source” to capture this broader phenomenon. The Program Committee encourages disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to the study of open source, broadly defined. "Politics" in the conference title, can have many interpretations. Political issues closely tied to the free and open source software movement(s) include: national government policies related to the adoption of open source technologies or questions related to interoperability and open standards, software patents, vendor lock-in, and copyright. These are central themes we expect may be discussed in this forum. In this context, we welcome international submissions since differences in the political perspective appear in international contexts. However, topics related to how the concept of openness has led to various interpretations, adaptations, and applications of “open source” in other domains, and political issues that surround these broader innovations, are also welcome. Specific topics might include, but are not limited to: General topics related to the politics of open source: + How open source software or its principles are changing politics + Emerging transparencies in software, systems and society + Open source in the developing world and other international contexts + The political economy of open source + Digital divides and open source Open source and the public sector: + Open source software and transparency in government + Government policies toward open source and open standards + Regulation and open source Open source and democracy: + Open source and democratic engagement + Open source voting systems + Activism, political mobilization and open source The expansion of open source into other domains: + Understanding how open source collaboration works and how it can be extended into other areas of collective action + Policy areas, such as the effects of free textbooks on education policy or the politics of "One Laptop Per Child" + The political implications of open source in other cultural domains Keynote Speakers We are pleased to confirm Eric von Hippel (MIT) and Clay Johnson (Sunlight Labs) as the daily keynote speakers for JITP-2010. Paper Submissions Authors are invited to prepare and submit to JITP a manuscript following one of the six submission formats by January 10, 2010. These formats include research papers, policy viewpoints, workbench notes, review essays, book reviews, and papers on teaching innovation. The goal is to produce a special issue, or double issue, of JITP with a wide variety of approaches to the broad theme of "The Politics of Open Source." How to Submit Everything you need to know about how to prepare and submit a strong JITP paper is documented at http://www.jitp.net/. Papers will be put through an expedited blind peer review process by the Program Committee, and authors will be notified about a decision by March 10, 2010. A small number of papers will be accepted for presentation at the conference. Other paper authors will be invited to present a poster during the Friday evening reception. All posters must include a "YouTube" version of their research findings. Best Paper and Poster Cash Prizes The author (or authors) of the best research paper will receive a single $1,000 prize. The creator (or creators) of the best poster/research presentation will also receive a single prize of $1,000. Program Committee M.V. Lee Badgett, University of Massachusetts Amherst Paul M.A. Baker, Georgia Institute of Technology Deborah Bryant, Oregon State University Open Source Lab Andrea Calderaro, European University Institute Mark Cassell, Kent State University Edward Cherlin, Earth Treasury Gabriella Coleman, New York University Doug Downham, University of Massachusetts Amherst Robert English, Daystar Computing & University of Massachusetts Amherst Joseph Feller, University College Cork Jelena Karanovic, Rutgers University Dave Karpf, University of Pennsylvania/Miller Center for Public Affairs Jeremy Hunsinger, Virginia Tech Andrea Kavanaugh, Virginia Tech Jose Marichal, California Lutheran University Jens Hardings Perl, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Charlie Schweik, University of Massachusetts Amherst, co-chair Stuart Shulman, University of Massachusetts Amherst, co-chair Megan Squire, Elon University Krishna Ravi Srinivas, Research Information System For Developing Nations Louis Suarez-Potts, Sun Microsystems, Inc. & OpenOffice.org Anas Tawileh, Cardiff University & Meedan.net -- Dr. Stuart W. Shulman Assistant Professor Department of Political Science University of Massachusetts Amherst 200 Hicks Way Amherst, MA 01003 http://people.umass.edu/stu/ stu@polsci.umass.edu 413-545-5375 Editor, Journal of Information Technology and Politics http://www.jitp.net Director, QDAP-UMass http://www.umass.edu/qdap/ Associate Director, National Center for Digital Government http://www.umass.edu/digitalcenter/