The Center for Research on Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CRIE) at the School of Law will host “Open-Source and Proprietary Models of Innovation: Beyond Ideology,” April 4-5 in the Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom of Anheuser-Busch Hall.
Open-source is a set of principles and practices on how to write software. When IBM contributed 500 patents for use by open-source software developers, it cemented open-source software development’s move from the fringe into the mainstream.
The open-source model of innovation has even begun migrating to other technology and creative fields, such as biotechnology and electronic publishing.
“Through all of this, there is a growing rift between the advocates of a ‘viral’ form of ‘free software’ licensing and those advocating a more pragmatic approach to open-source software licensing,” says Charles McManis, J.D., the Thomas and Karole Green Professor of Law and CRIE director.
“These recent developments sparked the idea for this conference,” he said.
The conference will address the following questions about open-source and proprietary models of innovation:
• How and when do the two models work?
• How and when (and how well) do they work together?
• What does law have to do with it?
Participants will hear from experts in the areas of anthropology, biology, business, economics, education, engineering and law.
In conjunction with the conference, Jonathan Zittrain, J.D., the Chair in Internet Governance and Regulation at Oxford University, will sign his most recent publication, “The Future of the Internet — And How to Stop It,” at 5:30 p.m. April 4 outside of the Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom in Anheuser-Busch Hall.
The conference is free and open to the public, and Missouri CLE credit will be given. Registration is required.
To register, visit law.wustl.edu/CRIE/conferences or contact Karma Jenkins at 935-9490.