Generating Value Through Open Source: Software Service Market Regulation and Licensing Policy

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: August, Terrence; Shin, Hyoduk; Tunca, Tunay I.
• 署名单位: University of California System; University of California San Diego; Korea University; University System of Maryland; University of Maryland College Park
• 刊物名称: INFORMATION SYSTEMS RESEARCH
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1047-7047
• DOI: 10.1287/isre.2017.0726
• 发表日期: 2018
• 页码: 186-205
• 关键词: proprietary software; incentive contracts; Optimal allocation; public-goods; COMPETITION; oligopoly; projects; QUALITY; IMPACT; motivations

摘要

In the software industry, commercial open-source software vendors have recognized that providing services to help businesses derive greater value in the implementation of open source-based systems can be a profitable business model. Moreover, society may greatly benefit when software originators choose an open-source development strategy as their products become widely available, readily customizable, and open to community contributions. In this study, we present an economic model to study how software licensing attributes affect a software originator's decisions, aiming to provide policy makers with insights into how welfare-improving, open-source outcomes can be incentivized. We show that when a competing contributor is apt at reaping the benefits of software development investment, a less restrictive open source license (e.g., Berkeley Software Distribution, or BSD style) can improve welfare. On the other hand, when the originator is better at leveraging investment and service costs are high, a more restrictive license (e.g., General Public License, or GPL style) can be best for social welfare even when a contributor can cost-efficiently develop the software.