Open Beyond Software

Abstract

The "community-based" model has generated many of the innovations we use on a daily basis. The social structure created by this model has cultivated many entrepreneurial ventures and even seeded new industries and product categories. The model is based upon the open, voluntary, and collaborative efforts of users - a term that describes enthusiasts, tinkerers, amateurs, everyday people, and even firms who derive benefit from a product or service by using it. This paper describes key elements of the community-based model and provides examples of community-based innovation that span fields and centuries.

Keywords: innovation, users, property rights, entrepreneurship