<sorry for any x-postings> Dear All, Hope everyone is doing ok. Please find information on the following new papers on our community website. Best Karim Paper 1 Authors: MacCormack, Alan, John Rusnak & Carliss Baldwin Title: Exploring the Structure of Complex Software Designs: An Empirical Study of Open Source and Proprietary Code (updated) http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/maccormackrusnakbaldwin2.pdf Abstract: This paper reports data from a study that seeks to characterize the differences in design structure between complex software products. In particular, we use Design Structure Matrices (DSMs) to map the dependencies between the elements of a design and define metrics that allow us to compare the structures of different designs. We first use these metrics to compare the architectures of two software products – the Linux operating system and the Mozilla web browser – that were developed via contrasting modes of organization: specifically, open source versus proprietary development. We then track the evolution of Mozilla, paying particular attention to a purposeful “re-design” effort that was undertaken with the intention of making the product more “modular.” We find significant differences in structure between Linux and the first version of Mozilla, suggesting that Linux had a more modular architecture. We also find that the redesign of Mozilla resulted in an architecture that was significantly more modular than that of its predecessor, and indeed, than that of Linux. Our results, while exploratory, are consistent with a view that different modes of organization are associated with designs that possess different structures. However, we also illustrate that purposeful managerial actions can have a large impact on structure. This latter result is important given recent moves to release proprietary software into the public domain. These moves are likely to fail unless the product possesses an architecture that facilitates participation. Our paper provides evidence that a tightly-coupled design can be adapted to meet this objective. Paper 2 Author: Vetter, Greg R Title: "Infectious" Open Source Software: Spreading Incentives or Promoting Resistance? http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/vetter2.pdf Abstract Some free or open source software infects other software with its licensing terms. Free or open source software is a copyright based licensing system. It typically allows modification and distribution on conditions such as source code availability, royalty-free use and other requirements. Some licenses require distribution of modifications under the same terms. A license is infectious when it has a strong scope for the modifications provision. The scope arises from a broad conception of software derivative works. A strong infectious ambit would apply itself to modified software, and to software intermixed or coupled with non-open-source software. Popular open source software, including the GNU/Linux operating system, uses a license with this feature. This Article assesses the efficacy of broad infectious license terms to determine their incentive effects for open source and proprietary software. The analysis doubts beneficial effects. Rather, on balance, such terms may produce incentives detrimental to interoperability and coexistence between open and proprietary code. As a result, open source licensing should precisely define infectious terms in order to support open source development without countervailing effects and misaligned incentives. Paper 3 Author: Vetter, Greg R Title: The Collaborative Integrity of Open-Source Software http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/vetter1.pdf Abstract: This Article analyzes legal protection for open-source software by comparing it to the venerable civil law tradition of moral rights. The comparison focuses on the moral right of integrity, with which one may object to mutilations of her work, even after having parted with the copyright and the object that embodies the work. The parallel apparatus in open-source licensing is conditional permission to use a copyrighted work. The conditions include that source code be available and that software use be royalty-free. These conditions facilitate open-source collaborative software development. At the heart of both systems is the right for creators to control the view that a work presents. In the open-source system, this is the Collaborative Integrity of open-source software. The history and legacy of moral rights help us better understand Collaborative Integrity in open-source software. The right of integrity in some international jurisdictions may apply to software, thus raising questions whether it hurts or helps open-source software. Building from these insights, this Article evaluates whether the Collaborative Integrity in open-source software deserves protection as a separate right, just as the right of integrity developed separately from pecuniary copyright in civil law jurisdictions. Paper 4 Authors CLéMENT-FONTAINE, Mélanie, Nicolas JULLIEN & Jean-Michel DALLE Title: New economic models, new economy for software http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/fichier_rapporte.pdf Abstract This report proposes some presentations and analysis of several FLOSS business models, and a juridical analysis of the use of Free licenses. We propose also a synthetical analysis of the impact of FLOSS on the computer industry. Dissertation Hope, Janet Title: Open Source Biotechnology http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/hope.pdf Abstract: Building on discussions with public and private sector industry participants, funding agencies, leaders of the free and open source software movement and scholars in a range of disciplines, this PhD thesis assesses the desirability and feasibility of extending open source principles to biotechnology research and development. It argues that "open source biotechnology" is both desirable and broadly feasible, and demonstrates that many of the essential elements of an embryonic open source movement are already present in this field. -- Karim R. Lakhani MIT Sloan | The Boston Consulting Group Mobile: +1 (617) 851-1224 http://spoudaiospaizen.net http://web.mit.edu/lakhani/www | http://opensource.mit.edu _______________________________________________ Community mailing list Community@opensource.mit.edu http://opensource.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/community