The Open Source Alternative: Shrink-Wrap, Open Source and Copyright
AbstractIn reaction to the ease of copying, the software industry and the electronic publishing industry have turned to shrink-wrap and click-wrap licenses, or end user license agreements (EULAs), to shore up the protection offered by the copyright structure. While the software industry would have us believe that there is no possible alternative to strong copyright and licensing protection, there is an alternative licensing model that has spawned very successful computer software growth. That alternative is open source software and the corresponding licensing that makes open source possible. The author concludes that in creating a vision for a future that is not governed by strict licensing agreements, open source is an important alternative. |