Matching Open Source Software Licenses with Corresponding Business Models

Scores of software producers have turned toward open source licenses to improve service for their customers. For these companies, choosing the correct license determines business success. When the available open source stack and licensing options grow, so does the need to understand the interplay among licensing, sourcing decisions, and business goals. A model of license choice emphasizes different licenses and rationalizes the choice of an open source software (OSS) license. This is crucial for smaller companies and start-ups that don't have the tools and knowledge to perform a thorough investigation of all the consequences of their license choice every time they employ OSS. © 2011 IEEE.