Patent vs. Open Source : A Classroom Activity Using Texas Hold’em Poker

This classroom experiment introduces students to the various incentives that influence private companies when they invest in technology, including investments that only benefit the investing company (patent) and investments benefiting all companies (open source). The game Texas Hold'em Poker is used to simulate this competitive investing. All players have access to the flop; however, access to the turn and the river will only be granted after one-time investments. When the technology is patent-protected, the turn and the river will be accessible only to the companies that have invested. When the technology is open source, the turn and the river become available to all companies so long as at least one company has invested