The Open Internet
The Open Internet is a phrase that describes the generative, open-source nature of the modern internet. This model allows anyone to build on the net using past innovation and code. Such projects have resulted in the Linux family of operating systems, open collaborative projects such as Wikipedia, and even the ability to add content to the internet. Its essence is massive crowdsourcing, allowing the wisdom of the crowds to create a generative global network. Contrasting this model is the closed-source modeling, most notably Digital Rights Management (DRM).
Contents
A Brief History of Public and Proprietary Spaces
The notion of public property goes back far; in the United States, modern copyright law and intellectual property (IP) laws have their beginning in the U.S. constitution. Article 1, Section 8, clause 8 reads:
"To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries."
In its current form, the U.S. copyright law protects creative works for the duration of the author's (or authors') life plus 70 years. [2] This copyright law forms the basis for the Open Source vs Closed Source debate, as developers can license their software , specifically for community (as opposed to proprietary) involvement, using Creative Commons. Using the collective, community knowledge, as opposed to highly-controlled, secretive proprietary knowledge is one of the main pillars of Creative Commons.
The Beginnings of the Internet
The Proprietary Model: Closed Source
Before the internet--as a mass, global network--existed, there were many networks operated centrally by corporations; users couldn't add to the network, contrary to the modern internet, and users could only access and view content and services directly offered by the corporation that owned the network. However, these networks still relied on the telephone network of AT&T. Such proprietary networks included Compuserve, America Online, Prodigy, GEnie. These networks, unlike the larger internet, could not interact with each other.[3] To access content (again, which was wholly controlled by the owning company), users had to sign in to the company's servers; instead of these proprietary networks being generative [3], users could only access content that the company explicitly approved. Often, programmers were contracted out to create content for the servers, but, especially in the case of Compuserve, available content was left largely unchanged[3].
The Generative Model: The Open Internet
Unlike proprietary networks, where users could not interact with the network in anyway they could imagine, the open internet rose not to offer a specific service, but to simply be a way to connect anyone to anyone; there was no intended purpose for the internet other than to connect individuals simply for the sake of connecting. Initially, the only computers capable of connecting to the internet were those in university computer and research labs, connecting not by a modem but by a direct connection, which was unavailable to the early PCs[3]. The software that allowed PCs to connect to a phone line, Windows Sockets API, wasn't available; Peter Tattam wrote a form of the Windows Sockets API(Winsock) called Trumpet Winsock that allowed individual PCs to connect. In addition, he distributed it as shareware, offering it for free and only asking for a donation if people used it beyond a certain test period.[3]
Open Source vs. Closed Source
Matt Asay, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Canonical--which is responsible for the Ubuntu Linux operating system--writes:Is open-source support better? No, not necessarily. It does a better job of meeting customer needs with lower risk and lower prices, and allows them to more easily support themselves. As for whether the person on the other side of the call is competent and diligent to resolve the customer's issue, that differs from company to company, and project to project.Just like in proprietary software.[4]
Between open source software and closed source software, there are a series of tradeoffs, as Asay describes. For example, the customer support for either type of software has its benefits and limitations, but neither is inherently better. Of course, open-source software is generally free and supports community involvement in its development, a large corporation also has its own community of developers. See Open Source Software for more.
Ethical Concerns
The idea of the "open internet" implies a certain transparency amongst all users; when the goal is to better define and enhance what already exists, full disclosure of code and intentions is necessary to create a product that was better than before. The idea of information transparency in an environment where the ultimate goal is to connect everyone to everyone is inherently an uncomfortable idea. Stealing, cheating, bullying, nearly every morally incorrect action can be seen to magnify and become easier to do in this transparent environment.
Currently, the internet is a public sphere, open to anyone to add content. It is, essentially, open-sourced, as opposed to the closed source proprietary networks. The internet is controlled by everyone and no one, as no one entity has complete control over it. But, because anyone can practically do anything on it, there are concerns of online bullying, concerns that are magnified because of the anonymity afforded to internet users because of its open nature. There are no universal logging mechanisms that keep track of who is doing what (although IP addresses do come close, they are merely an address and not an identity). As a result, it is extremely easy for pirated movies, morally objectionable content (such as pornography), and otherwise offensive content to be placed on the internet for all to see. Yet, the trade off is that, because of its open nature, "bad" content is balanced out by the good and informative, which rely on the same crowdsourcing mechanisms that contribute to Wikipedia.
