Economics of Open Source: The Motives and Methods Behind the Free Software That Is Challenging Market Leaders

Overview

Open Source Software (OSS) is starting to be known as a viable alternative to traditional commercial software. OSS is being used in almost all fields. This paper aspires to explain the current surge of open source software through economic analysis and to provide insight to the recent success of the open source movement. While working toward these goals, this paper will answer the how's and why's of open source software through standard economic models.