Open Hardware

Abstract This chapter explores open source hardware. Open source hardware is a relative newcomer in comparison with open source software. As a field it has adopted many assumptions and models from the world of open source software, but its latecomer status gives it the advantage of being able to learn from what has gone before. At this juncture, there are far fewer businesses operating in the world of open hardware, and those businesses are less prominent and successful (although there are signs that this is rapidly changing). There are also far fewer specific open hardware licences than open source software licences, and there are still fundamental questions about the applicability of various different forms of intellectual property right to different aspects of hardware.