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Cited by 16Open Source Software InnovationsDigital Platforms and EconomicsWikis in Education and Collaboration

The sustainability of open source commons

Open access
Curto-Millet, Daniel, Corsín Jiménez, Alberto·2023·European Journal of Information Systems
DOI 10.1080/0960085x.2022.2046516
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Abstract

The sustainability of commons has benefited from Elinor Ostrom´s analysis of shared resources. In her work, sustainability was described in a univocal manner–successful or not–depending on the common’s long-term capacity to survive within an uncertain environment. In recent years, this view of sustainability has been applied to the study of digital commons, including open source. Building on more recent work on sustainability, this paper challenges this univocal conception of sustainability in open source. Through a critical review of the literature, it unveils the coexistence of multiple notions of sustainability in open source and proposes a typology of sustainabilities (resource-based, infrastructural, and interactional). We propose that the degree and quality of the interrelationship between these different types of sustainability need to be explored, leading to the theorisation of three possible scenarios (trade-offs, synergy, and independence). We discuss and put forward a research agenda.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This critical literature review argues that open source sustainability has been treated univocally as success or failure, inherited from Ostrom's resource-centred commons framework, and proposes instead a typology of three coexisting sustainabilities (resource-based, interactional, infrastructural) whose interrelations can be theorised as trade-offs, synergy, or independence.

Key findings

  • The review identifies five themes through which sustainability is deployed in open source literature — participation, focal actors, temporality, dimensions, and underlying logics — and shows these combine into three distinct sustainability types: resource-based (capacity to attract and retain resources or value), interactional (capacity to entice a kind of participation conforming to a project's values and expectations), and infrastructural (sustainability of open source as a whole depending on the sustainability of key parts).
  • Participation is used in three different ways: as a condition for sustainability, as a cause (the more the better), and as a property (what kind of participation is needed).
  • The paper theorises three scenarios based on degree and quality of interrelation between the three types: trade-offs (high degree, negative), synergy (high degree, positive), and independence (low degree).
  • The authors argue sustainability in open source may not be "achieved" or stabilised, and that sustaining a project or community is a continuous effort.

Methods

  • Critical, narrative literature review following an interpretative approach aimed at problematising existing literature and its underlying assumptions.
  • Search of 50 journals (from Willcocks et al.'s 2008 top-tier IS list plus additions such as Research Policy and Journal of Software and Systems) in ISI Web of Knowledge for open source terms and "sustain*", yielding 29 papers of which 22 were pertinent.
  • Template analysis with an initial "participation" code, from which further codes and five main themes emerged; conceptual maps and matrices were built to visualise connections between codes, producing the typology.

Limitations

  • The paper states that its interpretative review places the burden of justification on exposition and researcher knowledge of the literature rather than on procedural systematicity of the search and breadth of papers analysed (citing MacLure, 2005), and that the limited number of papers found (29, of which 22 pertinent) reflects the search.
  • The paper notes that research in open source sustainability has not made its epistemological assumptions explicit, and that its own interpretation is that Ostrom-derived work rests largely on a rationalist lens that may preclude insights not relying on interest-seeking rational behaviour.
  • Evident from the text: the typology and the three scenarios (trade-offs, synergy, independence) are proposed theoretically and are not empirically tested in this paper; the authors frame them as avenues for future research rather than validated findings.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1080/0960085x.2022.2046516

Cites

105 of 106 references verified0 citation errors · 1 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

9 of 39 cited sources checked · 3 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

  • Premisecitation
    § 2. Sustainability in information systems

    Much of the early theorisation on open source derives from Ostrom's seminal work on the commons, in which sustainability is a core concept.

    “In fact, much of the early theorisation on open source (e.g., Benkler, 2002) derives from Ostrom's (1990) seminal work on the commons (Allen & Potts, 2016) in which sustainability is a core concept.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Benkler, 2002 source
    • cites Ostrom's (1990) source
    • cites Allen & Potts, 2016 source

      The paper’s discussion of commons studies (section labeled Acknowledgment in our copy; no page given) links Ostrom (1990) to studies of physical commons and describes a later extension to information and knowledge commons. It does not say that much early open-source theorisation derives from Ostrom, or that sustainability is a core concept in that lineage. The references list alone does not establish those claims. (LLM, conf=0.76)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Findingnone given
    § 768 D. CURTO-MILLET AND A. CORSÍN JIMÉNEZ

    The type of participation that is sustaining is one which fits with a project's or a community's social practice.

    “In addition, the type of participation that is sustaining is one which fits with a project's or a community's social practice.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingcitation

    In regimes of continuous temporality, when significant changes take place from outside the project's environment, such change is limited to increasing uncertainty and not to changes in the deep structure of the project.

    “When significant changes take place from outside the project's environment, such change is limited to increasing uncertainty (Oh et al., 2016), and not, say, changes in the deep structure of the project (Barrett et al., 2013)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Oh et al., 2016

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Barrett et al., 2013 source
  • Findingcitation
    § 1. Introduction

    Ostrom's view has been imported into models of open source and digital commons often without acknowledgement or problematisation, with notable exceptions.

    “Ostrom's view has been imported into models of open source and digital commons, often without acknowledgement or problematisation, with notable exceptions (e.g., Von Krogh 2002).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Von Krogh 2002 source
  • Findingcitation

    The logic of competition is embedded in studies mentioning the failure of open source.

    “The logic of competition is embedded in studies mentioning the failure of open source.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 57
  • May combine two claims. 11
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 2

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingcitation

    The open source movement tends to rely on self-organised and spontaneously emergent communities of volunteers which have the capacity of creating new markets.

    “It tends to rely on self-organised and spontaneously emergent communities of volunteers which have the capacity of creating new markets (Benner & Tushman, 2015).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Benner & Tushman, 2015 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    When considered, the open source movement is described as an alternative mode of innovation production, which may also be complementary to traditional ones.

    “When considered, the open source movement is described as an alternative mode of innovation production, which may also be complementary to traditional ones (Benner & Tushman, 2015; Osterloh & Rota, 2007).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim2 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Benner & Tushman, 2015 source
    • cites Osterloh & Rota, 2007 source

      Section 2 describes open source as a successful innovation model that challenges conventional approaches and combines features of private-investment and collective-action models. The passages do not establish the separate claim that open source may complement traditional modes of innovation production. (LLM, conf=0.82)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingcitation

    Because of their central role in encouraging project development, platforms are often thought to foster an ecosystem under the sponsorship of a platform leader which develops and provides specific functionality to smaller projects.

    “Because of their central role in encouraging project development, they are often thought to foster an ecosystem under the sponsorship of a platform leader which develops and provides specific functionality to smaller projects (Gawer, 2014).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Gawer, 2014 source

      The Introduction and §5.2 describe platform leaders as orchestrating and nurturing innovation ecosystems. Section 4.1 says firms develop and share APIs that let independent developers use platform services in their own complementary innovations. The paper does not characterize those innovations as “smaller projects,” so that qualification is not supported. (LLM, conf=0.82)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted), S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The survival of open source can be challenged by internal threats instead of external ones.

    “Others yet see the survival of open source challenged by internal threats instead of external ones (Gamalielsson & Lundell, 2014).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Gamalielsson & Lundell, 2014 source

      Section 2, “On sustainable Open Source software communities” (page unavailable), says inadequate governance and conflicts over project goals or leadership can threaten community sustainability. It does not say these internal challenges arise instead of external ones; the same section also discusses risks such as patent litigation. (LLM, conf=0.82)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The ideas of open source may be subverted by certain organisations to capture free labour in exchange for the promise of positive market signals of worth.

    “the ideas of open source may be subverted by certain organisations to capture free labour in exchange for the promise of positive market signals of worth (Hann et al., 2013)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Terranova (2000) source
    • cites Barron (2013) source
    • cites Hann et al., 2013 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    In response to the costly OpenSSL bug, solutions emphasising different sustainabilities were proposed.

    “As a response to the costly bug, solutions emphasising different sustainabilities were proposed.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Wheeler, 2014

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Kamp, 2014 source

      The HOW TO FUND FOSS section (page unavailable) describes several funding approaches, and WHY FOSS NEEDS MONEY links sustained developer support to software quality after Heartbleed. The paper therefore supports the claim that responses to the bug were proposed, but it does not distinguish solutions emphasising different kinds of sustainability. (LLM, conf=0.79)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites De Raadt, 2014

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • Rests on an assumption: A few years before the paper, an important bug was introduced into OpenSSL, a popular security communications protocol.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted), S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The relationship between different types of sustainability may evolve as projects mature.

    “For instance, the relationship between different types of sustainability may evolve as projects mature (Kroll et al., 2019).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Kroll et al., 2019 source

      The ‘Interactions within SDGs’ section (page unavailable) reports that synergies and trade-offs among sustainability goals changed over 2010–2018, supporting the general idea that such relationships can evolve. The paper examines SDGs across countries, however, not how relationships change as individual projects mature. (LLM, conf=0.85)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingcitation

    The more participation and activity takes place in a project or a community, the more likely it is to be sustainable.

    “The more participation and activity takes place in a project or a community, the more likely it is to be sustainable (Park et al., 2013).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Park et al., 2013

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingnone given

    The literature points to two main ways to preserve and recruit participation: attractiveness and legitimacy.

    “The literature points to two main ways to preserve and recruit participation: attractiveness and legitimacy.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingcitation

    A project is attractive to individuals because they perceive visible qualities and values that induce their participation.

    “A project is attractive to individuals because they perceive visible qualities and values that induce their participation (Santos et al., 2013).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Santos et al., 2013

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingnone given
    § 7. A typology of multiple sustainabilities in

    The literature treats participation as the core element in distinguishing between sustainable and non-sustainable open source.

    “the literature appears to treat participation as the core element in distinguishing between sustainable and non-sustainable open source.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation
    § 4. Sustainability in open source studies

    Lerner and Tirole's paper concludes that people come to participate in open source projects because, while it provides hackers with enjoyment, it also benefits them in the long-term.

    “Their paper concludes that people come to participate in open source projects because, while it provides hackers with enjoyment, it also benefits them in the long-term.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Lerner & Tirole, 2002 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingreasoning
    § 2. Sustainability in information systems

    All three streams of sustainability in information systems have contributed to definitions of sustainability which mirror Elkington's triple bottom-line approach.

    “All three streams have contributed to definitions of sustainability which mirror Elkington's (1997) triple bottom-line approach.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Elkington's (1997)

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Findingcitation
    § 766 D. CURTO-MILLET AND A. CORSÍN JIMÉNEZ

    A typology of three different understandings of sustainability latent in the papers emerged, helping to clarify the construct.

    “In this way, a typology of three different understandings of sustainability latent in the papers emerged, helping to clarify the construct (Rivard, 2014).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Rivard, 2014

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Findingnone given
    § 7. A typology of multiple sustainabilities in

    The way time is measured (through repeated polling or continuously) or whether it is overlooked (atemporal) affects the meaning of sustainability for both researchers and actors.

    “The way time is measured (i.e., through repeated polling or continuously) or whether it is overlooked (i.e., atemporal) affects the meaning of sustainability, both for the researchers and the actors involved.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingnone given

    In regimes of continuous temporality, institutional norms in communities that affect and sustain interactions cushion drastic changes.

    “The institutional norms in communities that affect and sustain interactions cushion drastic changes.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingnone given

    Actors are a key theme in the characterisation of sustainability in open source.

    “Actors are a key theme in the characterisation of sustainability in open source.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingnone given
    § 7. A typology of multiple sustainabilities in

    The greater the level of participation, the more likely sustainability is.

    “The greater the level of participation, the more likely sustainability is.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingnone given

    The largest actor referred to in the literature is the open source movement itself and the ecosystem it creates.

    “The largest actor referred to in the literature is the open source movement itself and the ecosystem it creates.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Findingnone given
    § 2. Sustainability in information systems

    In the context of open source, understandings of sustainability have not been unpacked.

    “In the context of open source, understandings of sustainability have not been unpacked.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingreasoning

    The notion of sustainability in open source is often accompanied by other terms close to its meaning: viability, survival, and vitality or health, which are used interchangeably.

    “Three recurring terms are viability, survival, and vitality or health which are used interchangeably.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Findingnone given

    Each of the three recurring terms (viability, survival, vitality/health) responds to a specific dimension of open source sustainability: economic, existential, and physical, respectively.

    “Each responds to a specific dimension of open source sustainability, respectively, economic, existential, and physical.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingreasoning
    § 4. Sustainability in open source studies

    There remains no substantial analysis of the meaning of sustainability in open source because open source has relied heavily on Ostrom's univocal reading of sustainability.

    “There remains, in sum, no substantial analysis of the meaning of sustainability in open source because open source has relied heavily on Ostrom's univocal reading of sustainability.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingreasoning

    In regimes of continuous temporality, open source sustainability happens when interactions between actors become positive, thus encouraging reciprocity.

    “In these papers, open source sustainability happens when interactions between actors become positive, thus encouraging reciprocity.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingreasoning
    § 768 D. CURTO-MILLET AND A. CORSÍN JIMÉNEZ

    Leaders can have a role in interacting with the community to affect participation.

    “Leaders can have this role and interact with the community to affect participation.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Findingnone given
    § 4. Sustainability in open source studies

    Throughout the literature, the notion of open source sustainability is problematic but never unpacked.

    “Surprisingly, throughout the literature, the notion of open source sustainability is problematic but never unpacked.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Findingnone given
    § 7. A typology of multiple sustainabilities in

    The focus on one focal actor over another influences the assessment of sustainability and the factors related to it.

    “The decision to focus on one over another influences the assessment of sustainability and the factors related to it.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingcitation

    The existential dimension of sustainability denotes a threat to open source by other, more established regimes of innovation.

    “there appears a side of sustainability that denotes an existential threat to open source by other, more established regimes of innovation.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation
    § 4. Sustainability in open source studies

    How to sustain open source in the long run remains an active question and failure is all too often a common outcome.

    “How to sustain open source in the long run remains an active question and failure is all too often a common outcome (Cai & Zhu, 2016; Fang & Neufeld, 2009).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Cai & Zhu, 2016 source
    • cites Fang & Neufeld, 2009 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingreasoning

    A project that does not manage sustainability is considered a failure, not simply unsustainable.

    “A project that does not manage sustainability is considered a failure, not simply unsustainable.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingnone given

    The literature projects two main logics onto open source actors: competitive and collaborative.

    “The literature projects two main logics onto open source actors: competitive and collaborative.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Findingreasoning

    In the existential dimension, sustainability focuses on a certain way of doing things, the continuance of a certain social practice.

    “In this dimension, sustainability focuses on a certain way of doing things, the continuance of a certain social practice.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingcitation

    A logic of collaboration is said to underpin many elements in open source.

    “A logic of collaboration is said to underpin many elements in open source.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingcitation

    There is also a logic of competition in the studied literature, which can take various forms.

    “However, there is also a logic of competition in the studied literature which can take various forms.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given
    § 4. Sustainability in open source studies

    Ultimately, open source is but a tool for career advancement and the betterment of individual sovereign subjects.

    “Ultimately, open source is but a tool for career advancement and the betterment of individual sovereign subjects.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Since membership is fluid in open source, contributors need to be able to navigate value differences between multiple projects and communities.

    “Since membership is fluid in open source, contributors need to be able to navigate value differences between multiple projects and communities.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    The open source context might be more complex than Ostrom's CPRs, with new contributors to a project needing to understand and establish common values with the community.

    “the open source context might be more complex, with new contributors to a project needing to understand and establish common values with the community”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Maruping et al., 2019 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning
    § 8. Theorising the relationship between types

    Degree of interrelation refers to the extent to which the unfolding of one type of sustainability depends on any of the other two.

    “Degree of interrelation refers to the extent to which the unfolding of one type of sustainability depends on any of the other two.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisenone given
    § 1. Introduction

    Answers to why open source is sustainable have often relied on Elinor Ostrom's understanding of sustainability derived from her institutional analysis of Common Pool Resources.

    “Answers have often relied on Elinor Ostrom's understanding of sustainability, derived from her institutional analysis of Common Pool Resources (CPRs).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisereasoning
    § 2. Sustainability in information systems

    Definitions hold epistemological assumptions that influence the way we study and think about sustainability.

    “Definitions hold epistemological assumptions that influence the way we study and think about sustainability.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation
    § 4. Sustainability in open source studies

    Several scholars have argued that open source sustainability is a latent key issue that requires detailed study.

    “At the same time, several scholars have argued that open source sustainability is a latent key issue (Krishnamurthy et al., 2014), that requires detailed study (Von Krogh et al., 2012).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Krishnamurthy et al., 2014 source
    • cites Von Krogh et al., 2012 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    A trade-off scenario would involve types of sustainability in open source being incompatible with one another, meaning the increase in one type of sustainability would lead to the decay of another.

    “A trade-off scenario would involve types of sustainability in open source being incompatible with one another, meaning the increase in one type of sustainability would lead to the decay of another.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted).

    Premisecitation
    § 1. Introduction

    Why open source is sustainable remains a key question in information systems.

    “Despite extensive research in open source, why it is sustainable remains a key question in information systems (Maruping et al., 2019).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Maruping et al., 2019 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given
    § 8. Theorising the relationship between types

    When the degree of interrelation is low, different types of sustainability in open source are independent from one another, and changes in one type should not affect the other two.

    “When the degree of interrelation is low, different types of sustainability in open source are independent from one another. Changes in one type of open source sustainability should not affect the other two.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § 8. Theorising the relationship between types

    Three alternative scenarios emerge from the degree and quality of interrelation: trade-off, synergy, and independence.

    “As a result of these two aspects of interrelationship, three alternative scenarios emerge (see, Figure 2).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    A synergistic scenario would posit that a change in one of the sustainability types would affect the others in a similar direction.

    “A synergistic scenario would posit that a change in one of the sustainability types would affect the others in a similar direction”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Comparable units of analysis may have localised and competing notions of open source sustainability.

    “comparable units of analysis (e.g., focal actors) may have localised and competing notions of open source sustainability.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Premisenone given
    § 4. Sustainability in open source studies

    The broader literature on sustainability in information systems and beyond points towards the existence of multiple understandings of the concept, which hold varying epistemological assumptions that influence the way sustainability is studied.

    “However, the broader literature on sustainability in information systems and beyond, points towards the existence of multiple understandings of the concept, which hold varying epistemological assumptions that influence the way sustainability is studied.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning
    § 8. Theorising the relationship between types

    Two aspects of interrelationship between different types of sustainability in open source need to be observed: degree and quality.

    “we argue that two aspects of interrelationship between different types of sustainability in open source need to be observed: degree and quality.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation
    § 2. Sustainability in information systems

    Sustainability is a key problem in open source.

    “Still, sustainability is a key problem in open source (Maruping et al., 2019).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Maruping et al., 2019 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Depending on the degree and quality of their interrelation, different assumptions can be made regarding the evolution of open source sustainability.

    “Depending on the degree and quality of their interrelation different assumptions can be made regarding the evolution of open source sustainability.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § 8. Theorising the relationship between types

    If the degree of interrelation is high, changes in one type of open source sustainability necessarily affect the other; if it is low, one sustainability may remain constant while the others change.

    “If it is high, changes in one type of open source sustainability necessarily affect the other, whereas if it is low, one sustainability may remain constant while the others change.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Under the physical dimension, open source sustainability is a perception of a rational choice to invest in joining and continue participating in a project which is already functioning well.

    “Under this light, open source sustainability is no longer a general idea, but a perception of a rational choice to invest in joining and continue participating to a project which is already functioning well.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationnone given

    Each of the scenarios of evolution of sustainability in open source can further question the meaning of sustainability in open source.

    “Each of these scenarios on their own can further question the meaning of sustainability in open source.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    In open source, governance structures emerge later in a project's lifecycle.

    “as O'Mahony and Ferraro (2007) suggest, governance structures emerge later in a project's lifecycle”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites O'Mahony and Ferraro (2007) source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    If trade-offs between types of sustainability are recurrent, sustainability in open source is much more of a strategic concern than the result of a process of resource accumulation within projects.

    “This would imply that sustainability in open source is much more of a strategic concern than the result of a process of resource accumulation within projects.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Positive market signals of worth are an incentive to commit in open source.

    “which research has shown is an incentive to commit (W Chen et al., 2018)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites W Chen et al., 2018 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The goal of projects is to achieve competitive advantage over others.

    “The goal of projects is thus to achieve competitive advantage over others (Chengalur-Smith et al., 2010; Karhu et al., 2018).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Chengalur-Smith et al., 2010 source
    • cites Karhu et al., 2018 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationcitation

    Issues from interrelated open source sustainabilities may help understand better the complexity of open source development and the relations with the increasing involvement of companies.

    “Issues from interrelated open source sustainabilities may help us understand better the complexity of open source development and the relations with the increasing involvement of companies (Daniel et al., 2018).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Daniel et al., 2018 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    A project or community may move from one sustainability scenario to another, perhaps caused by events or naturally as part of the lifecycle of the project.

    “Furthermore, a project or community may move from one scenario to another, perhaps caused by events or naturally as part of the lifecycle of the project.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
60 of 60

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The antecedents of independent types of sustainability are different.

    “Thus, we can assume that their antecedents are different and should be identified and explored.”

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    In studies seeing participation as a condition, the enabling conditions, if existing, are stable.

    “the onus is placed on the enabling conditions that, if existing, are assumed to be stable.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    A few years before the paper, an important bug was introduced into OpenSSL, a popular security communications protocol.

    “a few years ago, an important bug was introduced into OpenSSL, a popular security communications protocol.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    When Oracle bought Sun Microsystems, a major contributor to OpenOffice, the community's preoccupation with Oracle's values pushed many to create a rival open source project.

    “When Oracle bought Sun Microsystems, a major contributor to OpenOffice, the community's preoccupation with Oracle's values pushed many to create a rival open source project.”
4 of 4

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • The research does not address the long-term sustainability of any of the investigated projects.

    “Finally, our research does not address the long-term sustainability of any of the investigated projects (Mindel et al. 2018;Curto-Millet and Corsin Jimenez 2023).”

    From Freeriding and Rebellion: An Investigation of Open Source Vendor Relicensing and Member Hard Forking Events (2026) · cites this paper as Curto-Millet and Corsin Jimenez 2023

    The cited paper’s Introduction (p. 763) describes a critical literature review, and its Discussion and research agenda discusses how open-source sustainability unfolds over time. Neither passage addresses whether the citing authors’ research investigated the long-term sustainability of its projects; “our research” refers to the citing authors’ own study. (LLM, conf=0.76)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Daniel study has conflicting citation years

    Minor

    The text cites the Daniel, Agarwal, and Stewart study as 2013, but its reference entry gives 2012.

1 of 1

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Elkington, J. (1997). Cannibals with forks. The triple bottom line of 21st century. Capstone Publishing.
  2. Latouche, S. (1995). La mégamachine: Raison scientifique, raison économique et mythe du progrès. La Découverte.
  3. O’Riordan. (1993). The politics of sustainability. In K. Turner (Ed.), Sustainable environment economics and management: Principles and practice (pp. 37–68). Belhaven Press.

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
Curto-Millet, D., & Corsín Jiménez, A.
Affiliations
  • University of Gothenburg (SE)
  • Department of Anthropology, Spanish National Research Council, Madrid, Spain
Corresponding author
Curto-Millet, Daniel
ORCID
Venue
European Journal of Information Systems
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2022-03-15
Volume
32
Issue
5
Pages
763-781
ISSN
  • 0960-085X (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-9344
DOI
10.1080/0960085x.2022.2046516
OpenAlex
W4220863421
Semantic Scholar
3d5ce56a589da8c932ec24fc2c116ca3d70b82d7
Cited by
16
References
101
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1
FWCI
1.92
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • European Journal of Information Systems (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • DIGITAL.CSIC (Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders
European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement (744957)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Science Applications › Open Source Software Innovations
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Digital Platforms and Economics
  • Social Sciences › Communication › Wikis in Education and Collaboration
Keywords
open source software, digital commons, sustainability, Elinor Ostrom, commons governance, community resources

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-27.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-27.

Cited sources are checked by gpt-6-sol.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

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