The legal framework and business opportunities for free software
Jordi Mas (jmas@softcatala.org)
Ximian software engineer
General coordinator at Softcatalà
abstract
Free software leads to a new way of understanding user freedom, intellectual property, and the creation and distribution of software. Changing the way we understand the software industry has been shown to be technically viable, economically sustainable and socially fair. Linux, an operating system developed by volunteers, is the standard bearer for this social and technological revolution which is attracting interest from users, companies and public administrations around the world.
Companies and administrations are starting to invest in free software based solutions that are tailor made and better adapted to their needs. Each day, thousands of businesses and professionals are employed in developing, installing, training and supporting free software and this number is sure only to increase.
This article reviews the main aspects that should be known with regard to the legal framework regulating the software industry and takes a closer look at the business opportunities offered by free software.
keywords
free software, intellectual property, open source
Published in: September 2005
Reading and literacy in the information society, by César Coll. Presentation by Jordi Planella and Teresa Guasch
The legal framework and business opportunities for free software, by Jordi Mas
Digital Administration: a new way to manage public administration information, by Manuel Sanromà
Collaborative filtering: the socio-technical dimension of virtual communities, by Adolfo Estalella
The photographic image in the knowledge and digital communication society, by Víctor Renobell
The Success of Open Source, by Steven Weber. By David Megías
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