“Embedded Linux” is a Free Software operating system that is widely used to control hardware devices. Most of the developers are not hobbyists, but participate at work. To gain some understanding of why firms choose to freely share their software code, Joachim Henkel and Mark Tins conducted an important survey of these developers.

James Bessen provides an economic model that explains why some firms choose to participate in Free/Open Source software (FOSS) development. The key is in the complexity of software. Pre-packaged software providers are unable to meet many users needs as effectively as FOSS. This analysis suggests that FOSS is a robust innovation.

F. M. Scherer provides a broad overview of the economic issues regarding human gene patents and provides some new evidence on the nature of gene patents issued to different groups.

Deepak Somaya considers the particular problems of complex technologies--where each product may cover thousands of patents. He points out that firms choose different ways to acquire technology, for example, they may license it or develop it themselves. He argues that these choices determine the effects of policy.