[p2p-research] Dual Licensing of Research

[Michel Bauwens]

Hi Austin,

a small recommendation while we are at it.

have you investigated the Arduino model? it seems to be working and is faced
with similar issues,

I remember the creation of a special bank by that community, for funding
purposes,

Michel



>
> *From:* Austin <brentley at gmail.com>
> *To:* michelsub2003 at yahoo.com
> *Sent:* Thursday, June 11, 2009 1:38:47 PM
> *Subject:* Dual Licensing of Research
>
> Hello Michel,
>
> My name is Austin and I recently came across your article (
> http://www.we-magazine.net/we-volume-02/the-emergence-of-open-design-and-open-manufacturing/)
> concerning open manufacturing..  I found this piece very encouraging since
> over the past several weeks, I have been outlining a research paper for
> school in which a self-sustaining business model could actually help speed
> up R&D in the renewable energy sector.  I realize, after reading your
> article, that my business model is not nearly as "new" as I had previous
> believed....although my approach has a few key differences.
>
> I can only imagine how busy you must be, but I was hoping you might provide
> some clarity concerning dual licensing in an open innovation business
> model.  I think a very brief background on the actual idea might make my
> questions easier to frame.  the basic components are:
>
>
>    - Investors pool money into a research firm (we'll call it Green R&D)
>    - Green R&D works exclusively on renewable technology.  They pay for
>    the labs, scientists, etc.
>    - The research is posted online periodically so that anyone and
>    everyone can contribute, ask questions, make recommendations etc....the
>    information is essentially in the commons under a "public" license of
>    sorts..
>    - Solar panel or Wind turbine companies can use this growing body of
>    research to bring products to market.
>    - Green R&D receives an ex post royalty (under a dual license) from any
>    successful products created by these solar panel and wind turbine companies.
>    - Green R&D pays out dividends to initial investors and/or uses these
>    royalties to fund additional research.
>
> Energy companies have lower R&D costs since they benefit from Green R&D's
> public findings.  Innovation happens more quickly since the silo effect has
> been removed.  You still have market incentives (which help to pay for the
> research equipment).  And Green R&D only needs a few innovations to actually
> come to market...kind of how only a fraction of dual licensees in the open
> source world end up funding the entire Innovation Pool for everyone else (as
> you mentioned).
>
> As you can see, this model bears some similarities to the community-based
> innovation you discussed in your article....but as I mentioned, there are
> some major differences as well.
>
> This is the starting point of my research paper, but I've run into some
> difficulties...namely, measuring, monitoring, and enforcing the
> collaborative IP created under such a framework.  Dual-licensing is easy to
> implement in the digital world since source code can be monitored, tracked,
> and segmented.  Not so with research and other forms of technology.  As you
> pointed out, the manufacturing world (and to a lesser extent the research
> world) requires capital outlays that don't necessarily exist in open source
> communities.  Do you believe that dual licensing could work under the
> business model outlined above?
>
> Anyway, thanks in advance for any insights that you might be able to
> offer.  I'm a latecomer to the P2P, open source, and collaborative genres,
> but I really applaud what you are doing.
>
> Many regards,
>
> -Austin
>
>
>


-- 
Working at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhurakij_Pundit_University -
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