A discussion of hybrid open source and proprietary licensing models.

[Christian Ahlert <ca AT openbusiness.cc>]

Share Business Models That Share
Invitation to iCommoners to participate in Openbusiness.

Openbusiness is an international initiative with partners in Brazil,
South Africa and the UK. Its aim is to share business strategies,
models and ideas which thrive on openness and the freedoms Creative
Commons enables. OpenBusiness.cc is a platform to share and develop
innovative OpenBusiness ideas- entrepreneurial ideas which are built
around openness, free services and free access.

Existing OpenBusiness members are involved in Creative Commons in
their respective jurisdictions and are seeking more participants,
contributors and partners from the international iCommons community.

How can you participate?
You could simply visit www.Openbusiness.cc and contribute a blog
entry about an interesting Openbusiness topic. Posts and discussion
range from online record labels and publishers to any other type of
service makes use of Creative Commons licenses as an integral part of
their enterprise. In addition we are seeking inputs on business
strategies that enable sharing, p2p or that make use of other
business strategies which contribute to the commons. You can either
contribute individually, or participate as a full partner, taking up
a specific project and contributing regularly.

Help to build the Enterprise Commons
Recently OpenBusiness has started the development of OpenBusiness
tools. On the website you can find a draft for a Commercial Commons
License, which is meant to supplement Creative Commons license and
provide for free a structure for commercial relationships involving
creative works. In addition OpenBusiness members have started to
discuss shared ownership structures and the creation of other tools
to support OpenBusiness entrepreneurs.

Why participate?
OpenBusiness aims to help the little guy and support the sharing of
knowledge and ideas which empower individuals to move from an
exciting project to a sustainable Open Business. Sharing, opening up
content and ideas are rational strategies for individuals who aim to
create community driven enterprises or foster co-creation to
challenge established businesses built on closed IP and ownership
structures.

This is an opportunity for iCommoners to support innovative
approaches in the business domain.

Christian Ahlert

ca AT openbusiness.cc