Intellectual Property “Open Source” Software Movement

By Ali Raza

CPSC 548

Dr. Jo

Overview

Introduction History of Open Source Software Open Source in Today’s World Benefits of open Source Examples of open-source software The GNU Project and Linux Influence of Open-Source Software Legal & Other Risk Associated Critique of the Open-Source Movement

Introduction Internet Growth during the past few years has been

profoundly affected the way software is licensed and distributed. One of the most important changes that has occurred during this period is emergence of so-called open source licensing.

Open Source refers to a software program or set of software technologies which are widely available by an individual or group in form of Code form for use Modification Redistribution

Under a license agreement having few restrictions

History Formation of the Software Foundation (FSF) in 1983 FSF released a series of programs in source code from

under “GNU” GNU also set stage for even more free software

development projects in 1990s The license agreement that accompanied the GNU

software – known as the General Public License (“GPL) of “copyleft” license

In 1998, a group associated with free software introduced the term “open source”

Open Source Software in Today’s World No restrictions preventing others from selling and giving

away the software Source code must included in the distribution No restriction preventing people from modifying the

source code No Restriction regarding how people can use the

software Same rights apply to everyone receiving redistributions

of the software (copyleft)

Benefits of Open-Source Software

Gives opportunity to improve Rapid evolution of open-source software as a

result new versions of programs appears more frequently

Eliminates tension between obeying copyright law and helping others

Open-Source programs are property of the entire user community.

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Shifts focus from manufacturing to service which can result customers getting better support for their software.

Access to Source Code Cost

Example of Open-Source Software

Apache BIND PERL, Python, Ruby FireFox GNU compilers from C, C++, Object-C, Fortran,

Java, Ada Open Source Frameworks Sturts, Spring,

Hibernate, Apache POI, FOP, iText

Success Story: GNU Project and Linux

GNU and Linux are important success stories Richard Stallman begun the GNU Project in 1984 Goal: To Develop a complete Unix-like operating

system consisting entirely of open-source software. Most components developed in late 1980s

Linux In 1991 Linus Torvalds wrote Unix-like kernel Torvalds combined kernel with GNU components to

make an operating system called linux

Influence of Open-Source Software

As a reliable open-source alternative to Unix, Linux is putting pressure on companies selling proprietary versions of Unix.

Linux is also putting pressure on Microsoft and Apple, which sell proprietary operating systems for desktop systems.

Legal & Other Risk Associated

Potential liability for intellectual property infringement.

Open Source create opportunities for contributors therefore, it introduce infringing code and makes it almost impossible to audit the entire code base

Typical license form doesn’t include any intellectual property representation, warranties or indemnities in favor of the licensee.

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Open source licenses also do not contain the kind of representations and warranties of quality or fitness for a particular purpose

Some open source requires licensees to provide free copies of their derivative works in source code form for other to use, modify and redistribute.

Critique of the Open-Source Movement

Open-source project doesn’t attract a critical mass of developers, as a result quality can be poor

Without an ownership, incompatible version may arise

Open-source software as a whole trends to have a relatively weak graphical user interface

Poor mechanism for stimulating innovation.

Conclusion Open-Source offers opportunities and

disadvantages Opportunities

Vast pool of software talent with access to The ability to improve upon Open Source Software The ability to access and utilize software

Disadvantages Risk of Utilizing software No warranties Quality may not be up to the mark

Reference Ethics for the information age 3rd Edition by

Michael J Quinn http://www.abanet.org/intelprop/opensource.html http://www.fee.org/PUBLICATIONS/THE-

FREEMAN/article.asp?aid=6608 http://opensource.mit.edu/papers/vaden.pdf http://www.opensource.org/