The book has been written with a clear focus on intellectual property rights.
In their analysis, the authors provide answers to the following questions: Why have open source and free software communities created so many different licenses to protect their intellectual property?
Worldwide, governments and businesses are recognizing the added value of open source and free software. Unlike other software, this software is developed and continuously improved by volunteers in communities on the Internet. Some of these communities, like Linux and Apache, connect thousands of volunteers worldwide. The question is how these communities are able to continuously develop innovative software in a world dominated by markets, companies and laws.
Protecting the Virtual Commons informs us about the surprisingly creative solutions that explain the long-lasting stability of these communities. It identifies the threats that the communities are faced with and discusses the amazingly innovative strategies developed to neutralize these threats. The book has been written with a clear focus on intellectual property rights.