Hi, I've written an essay outlining a method for funding open source software development that I think offers a solution to the "free rider" and "assurance" problems caused by the "public good" nature of open source software. In brief, it involves creating a market for tradable software completion bonds. A software completion bond is a promise to pay the bond owner the face value of the bond when anyone, anywhere in the world, completes software that meets the bond specs. Here's the URL: The Wall Street Performer Protocol: Using Software Completion Bonds To Fund Open Source Software Development http://www.openknowledge.org/writing/open-source/scb/ I would welcome any suggestions, questions, or criticisms you may have. I'm especially interested in your thoughts regarding my analysis of the public goods problem in free software development. Chris Rasch
