Free/Open Services: Conceptualization, Classification, and Commercialization

The concept of Free/Open Services (F/O-Services) emerges by bringing together services with Free/Open Source Software (FOSS). F/O-Services enable the creation of transparent composite services collectively and allow people and other services to access them. This paper extends the concept of F/O-Services beyond the level of open interfaces, analyzing the associated licensing interpretations and exploring the notion of open service dependencies. Further, the paper overviews the business models for F/O-Services as a part of this social mechanism of exchange.