Abstract
The benefits of the open source development model have been proven by the test of time; however, making this development model economically feasible can be challenging. In this article, Monty Widenius puts forth a suggestion for a new type of license, which is the result of the lessons learned from decades of work on open source, both as programmer and entrepreneur. The result, “business source”, is a license that seeks to enable a business model that can both harness the benefits of open source while generating sufficient income for the program’s continued development. The business source license automatically changes terms after a given period: an initial non-open source license with specific usage restrictions that transforms to a fully open source license on a specific future date.
In this article, we contribute a proposal for a novel license, a set of recommendations for managers, and a sample text of a business source license. This work will be of relevance to four main groups: i) those developing or managing a closed source program but who are interested in the benefits open source offers; ii) those managing open core programs; iii) projects in development; and iv) investors interested in funding open source projects.
In this article, we contribute a proposal for a novel license, a set of recommendations for managers, and a sample text of a business source license. This work will be of relevance to four main groups: i) those developing or managing a closed source program but who are interested in the benefits open source offers; ii) those managing open core programs; iii) projects in development; and iv) investors interested in funding open source projects.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Peer-reviewed scientific journal | Technology Innovation Management Review |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Pages (from-to) | 5-12 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| ISSN | 1927-0321 |
| Publication status | Published - 06.2013 |
| MoE publication type | A1 Journal article - refereed |
Keywords
- 113 Computer and information sciences
- 512 Business and Management
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Cite this
Widenius, M., & Nyman, L. M. (2013). Introducing "Business Source": The Future of Corporate Open Source Licensing? Technology Innovation Management Review, (6), 5-12.