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Open Economies - Re: [OpenEconomies] The role of software in bridging the DigitalDivide

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Re: [OpenEconomies] The role of software in bridging the DigitalDivide 

At 00.45 -0500 02-01-13, Karim R. Lakhani wrote:
>I think the open source movement is showing just the opposite. People
>will infact give IP away for free.  They engage in the creation of the
>IP for many reasons, the cost to produce and distribute is very low to
>almost zero. Traditional IP protections, theory and law were designed to
>both spur discloure of the 'useful arts' and as an incentive to
>innovate.
(---)

I haven't decided whether I agree with him or not, but in his latest book
Manuel Castells investigate free software and open source. Castells argue
that the movements are meritocracies, which is not a great surprise.
However, he pushed the argument further, stating -very simplified- that
fame and reputation replaces money in the commmunity. Milton Friedman would
be happy to learn this and add another stone in the monument of the world
with no free lunches. Anyway - there are still incentives in this
environment, they are just not based on monetary ground. Perhaps this could
be used in the fight against the digital divide - if the community would
appreciate an effort to spread for example Linux in Africa.

Regards

Mikael

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