Publication

This paper explores the impact of expanded opportunities for software patenting on the innovation-model in the free/open source software (FOSS) domain. It discusses the issue of patenting in traditional industries and the proprietary software industry, examines the principal characteristics of FOSS in comparison to proprietary software and outlines three potential approaches to studying the effects of software patents on FOSS. The authors argue that patents that are sought and/or granted on proprietary software have either no or a negative effect on FOSS innovation.