부산대학교 도서관

This chapter explores how revenue is generated in businesses based on open source licensed software. Open source may be many things, beyond its legal categorisation, but open source software is not of itself a business model nor was it ever intended to be one. Generating revenue and finding a suitable business model for businesses based on open source licensed software, is, therefore, the ‘holy grail’ to many interested in open source. In light of this, the chapter first defines what open source is and what it is not. A consideration of possible revenue and business models is then provided. Next, the chapter discusses recent business issues in open source. Finally, the chapter covers commercial contracts.