Open source law, policy and practice /

Bibliographic Details
Format: eBook
Language:English
Published: Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2022.
Edition:Second edition.
Subjects:
Online Access:Connect to the full text of this electronic book
Description
Abstract:This book examines various policies, including the legal and commercial aspects of the Open Source phenomenon. Here, 'Open Source' is adopted as convenient shorthand for a collection of diverse users and communities, whose differences can be as great as their similarities. The common thread is their reliance on, and use of, law and legal mechanisms to govern the source code they write, use, and distribute. The central fact of open source is that maintaining control over source code relies on the existence and efficacy of intellectual property ('IP') laws, particularly copyright law. Copyright law is the primary statutory tool that achieves the end of openness, although implemented through private law arrangements at varying points within the software supply chain. This dependent relationship is itself a cause of concern for some philosophically in favour of 'open', with some predicting (or hoping) that the free software movement will bring about the end of copyright as a means for protecting software.
Physical Description:1 online resource (627 pages) : color illustrations
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN:9780192606860
0192606867
9780191894893
0191894893
9780192606877
0192606875