Open collaborative design/What is the motivation to contribute?

There are many reasons why someone might want to contribute to the 'universal commons' of free and open designs:

• People can find other highly motivated people like-minded people to work with them on their project, enable them to do things they couldn’t do alone, or significantly speed things up

• They are contributing to the open ecosystem that freely offers designs that can be used no strings attached. After many years of using free and open designs many people will feel comfortable 'giving something back' - although they are under obligation to do so.

• Using components and assemblies from the universal commons will allow people to create things that they would have not otherwise have been able to do so - they will have been given a 'flying start' with whatever they build.

• A widely used design will give enormous satisfaction to the creator knowing that many other people are getting practical use or joy from it. As with software created in this way many people will give positive feedback and praise, and the creator(s) will enjoy the due respect for their efforts

• Desired products and machines can be individually customised to a high degree

• Other people may evolve your design further, which could benefit you as they might improve it or make additions you hadn't thought of.

• The concept of 'copyleft' (i.e. making sure that the details of the desing are availchanges the way people think about to contributing to creative open projects as these contributions are for the benefit of everyone and anyone - any contributions and improvements benefit all who have an interest in that project.