Hello All, Some members of the list may be interested in these papers. Sorry for any X-posting. Best, Karim -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [F/OSS-Community] 3 New Papers and 1 Book on opensource.mit.edu Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2003 11:40:25 -0500 From: Karim R. Lakhani <lakhani@MIT.EDU> Organization: MIT Sloan Spoudaios Paizen Research Project To: discuss <discuss@opensource.mit.edu>, community <community@opensource.mit.edu> Hello All, Happy New Year! The year is off to a great start. Over my holidays I recieved 3 papers and 1 book on free software and open source. Many thanks to the authors for their contributions. Here are the details: Paper 1 Author: Nuvolari, Alessandro Title Open Source Software Development: Some Historical Perspectives http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/nuvolari.pdf Abstract: In this paper we suggest that historical studies of technology can help us to account for some, perplexing (at least for traditional economic reasoning) features of open source software development. When looked in historical perspective, open source software seems to be a particular case of what Robert Allen has termed "collective invention". We explore the interpretive value of this historical parallel in detail, comparing open source software with two remarkable episodes of nineteenth century technical advances. Paper 2 Authors: Schmidt, Klaus & Monika Schnitzer Title Public Subsidies for Open Source? Some Economic Policy Issues of the Software Market http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/schmidtschnitzer.pdf This paper discusses the economic merits of direct or indirect governmental support for open source projects. Software markets differ from standard textbook markets in three important respects that may give rise to market failures: (i) large economies of scale, (ii) crucially important innovations, (iii) significant network effects and switching costs. We analyze the differences between proprietary software and open source software with respect to these market features and ask whether open source as an alternative to proprietary software can mitigate these problems. Then we discuss the implications of various forms of governmental support for open source. Paper 3 Authors: West, Joel & Jason Dedrick Title Open Source Standardization: The Rise of Linux in the Network Era http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/westdedrick.pdf Abstract: To attract complementary assets, firms that sponsor proprietary de facto compatibility standards must trade off control of the standard against the imperative for adoption. For example, Microsoft and Intel in turn gained pervasive adoption of their technologies by appropriating only a single layer of the standards architecture and encouraging competition in other layers. In reaction to such proprietary strategies, the open source movement relinquished control to maximize adoption. To illustrate this, we examine the rise of the Linux operating system from 1995-2001, particularly the motivations of organizational buyers and suppliers of complementary assets, and Microsoft’s reaction to its success. Book Editor: Hahn Robert Title Government Policy Towards Open Source Software (Edited Book) http://www.aei.brookings.org/publications/abstract.php?pid=296&aei_bro Abstract: Can open source software?software that is usually available without charge and that individuals are free to modify?survive against the fierce competition of proprietary software, such as Microsoft Windows? Should the government intervene on its behalf? This book addresses a host of issues raised by the rapid growth of open source software, including government subsidies for research and development, government procurement policy, and patent and copyright policy. Contributors offer diverse perspectives on a phenomenon that has become a lightning rod for controversy in the field of information technology. Contributors: Chapter 1: Government Policy toward Open Source Software: An Overview; Robert W. Hahn Chapter 2: What Good is Free Software?; James Bessen Chapter 3: Politics and Programming: Government Preferences for Pomoting Open Source Software; David S. Evans Chapter 4: Open Source Baselines: Compared to What?; Lawrence Lessig Chapter 5: The Future of Software: Enabling the Marketplace to Decide; Bradford L. Smith Send me more of your papers!!! -- =============================================== Karim R. Lakhani MIT Sloan School of Management MIT Free/Open Source Software Research Project e-mail: lakhani@mit.edu voice: 617-851-1224 fax: 617-344-0403 http://opensource.mit.edu http://freesoftware.mit.edu http://mit.edu/lakhani/www ============================================== _______________________________________________ Community mailing list Community@opensource.mit.edu http://opensource.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/community -- =============================================== Karim R. Lakhani MIT Sloan School of Management MIT Free/Open Source Software Research Project e-mail: lakhani@mit.edu voice: 617-851-1224 fax: 617-344-0403 http://opensource.mit.edu http://freesoftware.mit.edu http://mit.edu/lakhani/www ==============================================