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Ethical issues in open source software

F S Grodzinsky (Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT, USA)
K Miller (University of Illinois Springfield, Springfield, Illinois, USA)
M J Wolf (Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN, USA)

Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society

ISSN: 1477-996X

Article publication date: 1 November 2003

1858

Abstract

In this essay we argue that the current social and ethical structure in the Open Source Software (OSS) Community stem from its roots in academia. The individual developers experience a level of autonomy similar to that of a faculty member. Furthermore, we assert that the Open Source Software Community’s social structure demands benevolent leadership. We argue that it is difficult to pass off low quality open source software as high quality software and that the Open Source development model offers strong accountability. Finally, we argue that Open Source Software introduces ethical challenges for universities and the software development community.

Keywords

Citation

Grodzinsky, F.S., Miller, K. and Wolf, M.J. (2003), "Ethical issues in open source software", Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society, Vol. 1 No. 4, pp. 193-205. https://doi.org/10.1108/14779960380000235

Publisher

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MCB UP Ltd

Copyright © 2003, MCB UP Limited

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