4 papers and 1 dissertation on opensource.mit.edu

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