In this thesis, the diffusion of free and open source software (FOSS) on desktop PCs at Middle East Technical University in Ankara (METU) is investigated within the framework of the diffusion of innovation theory. This thesis aims to propose some policies for the migration to FOSS on desktop PCs at METU. The research is conducted through two similar web-based surveys. The first survey was held during 27-28 September 2003 after the examination of exemption for the IS100 course. The second survey was held between 23 March and 24 May 2004 in the whole of the METU campus. This survey was open to all students and academic and non-academic staff with a METU network account. There were 402 participants in the first survey and 1224 in the second. As expected, Microsoft OS rules the desktop PCs within the METU campus. According to the surveys, there is a rather large PC user base which could potentially migrate to GNU/Linux system. In addition to a large amount of data, it has been found out that a migration to FOSS is welcomed greatly by the users if the process is explained on the basis of public economic gains. However personal migration is still difficult if the user is left alone to install any new OS. Activities which will eventually increase the awareness for FOSS at METU, change in the curriculum of the IS100 course, collaboration among METU FOSS users and creation of a software catalog with possible FOSS equivalent for METU courses are some of the propositions which will eventually help the migration process. Furthermore, different innovation-decision models are discussed based on the research findings.

In recent years, there has been growing interest of governments and firms for Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). However, FOSS is still a puzzlement for a wide spectrum of academic disciplines. Social scientists ask why FOSS hackers participate in FOSS if they do not get any monetary rewards. On the other hand firms ask, how a firm can earn money from FOSS. In this study, motivations of FOSS hackers and firms are taken as an interrelated phenomenon. For FOSS hackers, social and technical aspects of FOSS are essential. On the contrary to FOSS hackers, firms have profit oriented goals. In this context, conflicting and coinciding interests of FOSS hackers and firms are investigated through development of FOSS in Turkey. Software industry in Turkey is not developed enough and FOSS may play a prominent role in developing its own software industry. This study discusses FOSS both from the view of hackers and the firms in Turkey. In that respect, social conditions that make hackers voluntarily contribute, discrepancies between attitudes and behaviors of the firms and FOSS licenses are explored. According to these facts, possible FOSS business strategies which may be adopted in Turkey are presented.

台灣因地理位置、氣候與地形等因素，孕育了豐富的森林資源。林務局廣設永久樣區以瞭解森林資源之分布與蓄積情形，永久樣區每隔五年進行全面性調查，調查所得資料繁多，惟永久樣區之植物資源調查資料僅記錄樣區之坐標位置與樣區內植物之分布情形，並未建立相關圖面資料，以至於無法與其他圖籍資料進行套疊分析。 本研究以MapServer、Zope等自由軟體與自行開發之軟體工具，處理圖形與相關屬性資料，以建構符合OGC（Open Geospatial Consortium）提出之網路地圖服務（Web Map Service，WMS）與網路圖徵服務（Web Feature Service，WFS）規格的WebGIS伺服端系統，並且整合各項森林資源表簿調查資料與圖籍資料，建構一包含森林永久樣區與樣木之空間與屬性資料的森林資源調查管理系統，以提供管理者經營管理與規劃之良好工具。 / There are plentiful forest resources in Taiwan because of the unique geographic location, climate and terrain. In order to acquire the information of distribution and storage of forest resources, the Forest Bureau sets up a lot of sample plots, and these sample plots will be fully surveyed every five years. Numerous data were collected, however only the coordinates of sample plots and the distribution of vegetation within those sample plots were recorded. It is not possible to perform map overlay analysis with the other map data because of lacking spatial data of sample plots. In this research, a WebGIS (web-based GIS) system was developed entirely from free software including MapServer, Zope, Apache and PostgreSQL/PostGIS. This WebGIS system is based on the OGC OpenGIS architecture (WMS and WFS), therefore it is easy to share geospatial data with the other GIS systems for various applications. Furthermore, a forest resources management system was established, which integrates the attribute data from field investigation and generates spatial data of sample plots and sample trees automatically.

Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) licences channel the exclusionary and individualising force of copyright to establish a qualitatively different, somewhat subversive, system for the exploitation of software. This thesis examines how it is that FOSS licences establish this 'system within a system' under both German and United States law. The inquiry begins with a detailed examination of FOSS licence templates as the instruments which transform code from its default position as the 'res' of proprietary relations to its status as 'open' or 'free'. The thesis then considers whether FOSS licence templates, as the legal basis for this subversive move, are valid and enforceable under domestic law. In addressing this question, the thesis undertakes a critical analysis of the leading case law in each jurisdiction. Going beyond the immediate case law, the thesis considers the broader systemic effects of FOSS licence enforcement. It highlights how building a system within a system foments certain tensions and contradictions within the law, in turn giving rise to unintended consequences and legal uncertainty. By highlighting these tensions, the thesis argues that the questions of FOSS licence enforcement in Germany and the United States may not be as settled as some may think.

The subject of this thesis is open source software and free software in term of utilization for business. The goal is to provide conditions and areas suitable for using of open source software and free software. The theoretical part gives basic terms, a list of organizations active in this area, classification of free software and a comparison of particular free software licenses. The practical part includes results of two inquiries of free software using: 1) personally made inquiry in Czech firms, 2) Internet inquiry of users. Further, a search of available free programmes has been made -- in term of utilization. The main benefit of the work is an evaluation of business opportunities for free software in particular utilization areas and determination of business models suitable for them. In the framework of this work, the author made an Internet portal on free software - to make the results of the work and external sources available to the public.

The dissertation focuses on the use of free software in Czech libraries. Both real practice and librarians' attitudes to this type of software are analyzed. The main goal of the dissertation has been to evaluate the attitudes of Czech libraries to free software, to analyze its use in practice, to design information and communications strategy for free software project and to implement it using Evergreen as an example project. In order to achieve the goals, both qualitative and quantitative research methods have been used. These included a survey, web data gathering and analysis and also case studies. The devised and implemented information and communications strategy consists of eight main parts (setting up a local community, creating communication tools, organizing seminars, Czech localization, the creation of first common catalogues, making documentation publicly available, active involvement in the international community and establishing a legal entity to improve awareness about free software among librarians) which are complemented with a SWOT analysis evaluating the strategy implementation.