In a New York Law Journal article, Dorsey partner Gary Abelev and Dorsey attorney Steven Fang consider the pros and cons of utilizing open source software in a business setting (read the complete article here (PDF).
They caution that while the open source software can often be obtained for little or no cost, the open source model is still a relative novelty. By contrast, the traditional proprietary model has been part of the business world for decades and many courts have addressed the issues that affect development, acquisition and use of proprietary software.
The article "Pros and Cons of Deploying Open Software" was published in the January 18, 2007, edition of the New York Law Journal. Reprinted with permission.