SGER: Promoting Free Market and Open Source Software Innovation Through Better Licensing

这个SGER项目将调查开放和封闭软件许可之间的社会最优权衡。在软件开发的背景下，在经济和非经济以及受控和自由访问之间存在复杂的交互作用，这项工作试图阐明软件许可证的最佳使用，以平衡合法的商业利益和增强社会福利的公共利益。有两种科学贡献。第一种是双边网络效应的扩展理论，该理论探索了向互补投资开放软件平台如何让开发人员和消费者都受益。在此框架下，可以调整一组模型参数，以推广某些现有的许可证，同时为新类型的许可证提供机会空间。第二个贡献是对浏览器可访问的模型进行编码，该模型允许对涉及的许多权衡进行动态模拟。模型和交付成果的开放性有助于确保结果的相关性和准确性。成功产出的社会效益是提高软件的数量、可获得性和增长的潜力，这是用户和开发人员的宝贵资源，无论是非营利性的还是营利性的。

This SGER project will investigate the socially optimal tradeoffs between open and closed software licensing. In the context of software development, where there are complex interactions among economic vs. non-economic and controlled vs. free access, this work seeks to articulate the best use of software licenses that balance legitimate business interests against public interest in enhanced social welfare. There are two kinds of scientific contribution. The first is an expanded theory of two-sided network effects that explores how opening a software platform to complementary investment can benefit both those who develop and those who consume. Under this framework, a set of model parameters might be tuned so as to generalize certain existing licenses, while suggesting an opportunity space for new kinds of licenses. The second contribution is the coding of a browser-accessible model that allows dynamic simulation of the many tradeoffs involved. Openness of the models and deliverables help ensure relevance and accuracy of results. The social benefit of successful output is the potential to improve the quantity, accessibility, and growth of software, a valuable resource for users and developers, non-profits and for-profits alike.