Open Source Economy
Exploring decentralized payment ecosystems for open source technology and culture,
with a "not-for-loss" license and incentives for transparent and consensual participation.
Why
- To help solve the problem of funding the open source ecosystem:
World's Email Encryption Software Relies On One Guy Who Is Going Broke - To strengthen the open source ecosystem (increase quality, diversity, viability)
- To create a virtuous circle of growth (simplify transition to profitability; reward enablers of this)
- To accelerate human progress (reduce barriers to knowledge and tools)
Challenges
- Aligning incentives for participation by individuals and companies
- Providing attractive reasons and simple ways to get started
- Automating payment based on profitability, usage, and subjective value
- Designing a reasonable system for distributing funds
- Bootstrapping at small scales requires finding early adopters
- Gaining adoption at large, useful scales requires advocacy
Ideas
- Not-for-loss licensing
- Voluntary, transparent participation
- Open reputations incentivising honest and accountable behavior
- Identity established by communities and individuals you trust
- Incentives for users, developers, students, professionals, and investors
- Ethereum and smart contracts
Use Cases
- An open source developer and a professional user
- A creative commons author and an enthusiast student
- A DAO company and a foreign investor
- A respected mentor and a young apprentice
- An open architect and a DAO construction firm
Case Study: Open developers + professional users
Participants
- Open source developer
- Wants to release software that makes a difference in the world,
by achieving widespread use with minimal barriers - Wants to participate in a culture of open understanding and improvement
that allows unrestricted learning and modification - Wants to receive payment to support their efforts,
in proportion to their usefulness to others
- Professional software user
- Wants to use simple and secure software that meets their real needs
- Wants to be assured of the source and authenticity
- Wants to have a voice in the future development
- Wants to support other individuals and organizations,
to the extend that they empower him or herself
Tools
- Not-for-loss license
Grants unlimited commercial, non-profit, and personal use
to any organization or individual that agrees to share
a small amount (about 1%) of profits over a subscription period
with parts of the open ecosystem they value. - Public Accounts
A public address by which individuals and organizations can receive funds,
and redirect them to public or private recipients in a very flexible
but transparently auditable way. - Valuation Measure
A contract component that model the degree to which an individual values others,
as represented by pairs of relative weights and identifiers. - Transaction Middleware
Allows controlling the flow of transaction value with a combination of
standard components and custom parameters. - Donation Contract
A type of contract that allows sharing incoming funds with recipients
of one's choice in accordance with one's values.
External Infrastructure
Probably outside of our scope for this project, but these systems are
likely to arise in the future, and would be useful for an open economy:
- Open Identities and Reputation
Allows users and organizations to build a solid history
which allows them to be trusted by others, in the context of communities
which both hold them accountable and provide opportunities
for future connections and benefits. - Registries and Ratings Agencies
Third party organizations that make it easier to identify and evaluate
market participants and services, including individuals, groups, and contracts.
Incentives
Users
Gain access to unlimited use of open products and content
by agreeing to share a small amount (about 1%) of any profits
over with parts of the open ecosystem you value, while building
reputation, influence, and goodwill as member in good standing.
- Open products and designs
Software, hardware, machinery, architectures - Open content
Books, media, education - Unlimited use
Commercial, non-profit, and personal use are all encouraged! - Reduce economic risk
Failed ventures incur no cost from their subscription.
This helps protect Individuals, DAOs, and Corporations. - Universal Membership
A voluntary agreement under the not-for-loss license
to join the open ecosystem along with its benefits and dues.
Developers
Get paid for the software you already know you want to write.
Make a difference by providing what the world actually needs.
- Profit by Empowering Others
Open producers are incentivized to share powerful, popular tools
because they are rewarded when their users profit. - Build a Better World
Create an ecosystem of mutual empowerment
based on a "virtuous circle of good". - Metrics and Feedback
Discover which types of software
that people really use, value, and pay for. - Dual Rewards
Receive payment in todays currencies (BTC, ETH, USD)
while building reputation in the approval economy of tomorrow.
Students
Master your fields of study with minimal barriers today,
and transition seamlessly to a paid professional tomorrow.
Gain access to valuable tools, content, and even mentors
under a low-risk, "not-for-loss" license.
- Master Your Field
Start building your knowledge and future toolset
by working on projects you care about today. - Eliminate Barriers
Find the information and tools you need to succeed,
at a cost you know you can afford. - Continuous Growth
Transition seamlessly from experimental hobbyist
to paid professional with "not-for-loss" licensing. - Reinvest in Mentors
Repay the mentors and others who helped you
along your path to success, as soon as you're ready.
Professionals
- Use the Best Tools
You get what you pay for, so support the open ecosystem
that already empowers you and notice the difference. - One Simple License
Simplify product licensing by subscribing to
multiple products under one "not-for-loss" agreement. - Build Your Reputation
Establish your professional reputation
by showcasing successful projects. - Show Your Value and Expertise
Advertise your interests and expertise
by sharing your personal tools of choice. - Reinvest in Your Community
Build goodwill in your community
by giving back to those supporting your profession.
Investors
- Invest In Your Values
Invest in the future success of the open software,
products, and content you believe in
in ways that are purposeful and profitable. - Regional Integration
Simple, automatic integration
with the laws of each participant's respective locale
to guide users on a best-effort basis. - Common Conventions
Point users towards informal legal analysis
to gain a basic understanding of common conventions. - User Responsilibity
Encourage users to make their own decisions,
if necessary with their own legal counsel. - Regional Limitations
Note, this means features may be limited by region!