Public Access to Intellectual Property：A Case Study On The Free Software Movement

• Main Authors: Ya-Fei Chang, 張雅霏
• Other Authors: Cheng-Liang Chen
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/20621620786258160487

碩士 === 世新大學 === 社會發展研究所(含碩專班) === 99 === Since the 80's, Patented software makes monopoly in the market affecting the public access of knowledge. At the other hand, free software appears with collaboration and sharing to make the computer software be changed. It also creates the movement of free software to the market and brings the possibility of balance to the monopoly of patent software. Subsequently, the collective collaboration of free software began to change. It provides not only a free creation but a sharing world. In addition, it seems that free software becomes a platform for capitalists to profit. Through collective collaboration with lower price and profit sharing to gain profit, it forms a supply chain for demands of consumer. The trade-to-benefit of free software becomes more apparent. Collective collaboration by the free software engineers are facing the change of change. The whole process seems to have a hand control in the back. It makes the result of collective collaboration is not really open and  the free software movement becomes another kind of market monopoly. Software engineers follow the “hacker culture” as the “helmsman” for free software. They contribute to the collective effort of collaboration platform through community. They get paid which beyond the basic subsistence. The study also observes that the free software providing a platform which showing kind of cultural power. So engineers of free software  realize their potential. During the dawn of new era of software revolution, Free Software and engineer's attitude are worthy of further study and attention.