SharedUniverse.net

Overview

Free Software gives rise to unprecedented economic realities and possibilities. For the first time in history, significant amounts of economic value are able to be created with near zero variable cost. Software is essentially free to duplicate and run, and it can dramatically benefit its users. This raises new possibilities for the advancement of human good if a way can be made to pay the fixed costs and produce the software in the first place.

An Economy of Sharing

Two kinds of free economies can be envisioned: an economy of ownership, where software is owned and its use and distribution is restricted, and an economy of sharing where software is shared freely and each person gains much more than he has contributed. Both are rational economies, and the latter has the greatest power for the advancement of human good. Furthermore, this economy is happening.

A Defining Speech

The following is a speech given by Eben Moglen, the General Counsel for the Free Software Foundation in June 2007. Among many other things, he speaks about the economy of sharing as opposed to the economy of ownership.