Can tiered open-source mandates optimize innovation? A differential game study osn platform vs. independent project dynamics in foundation software ecosystems

{"The":[0],"governance":[1,153],"of":[2,155,164],"AI":[3,134],"foundation":[4],"software":[5],"ecosystems":[6],"requires":[7],"balancing":[8],"platform":[9],"scale":[10],"and":[11,29,36,51,74,98,118,158],"independent":[12],"innovation":[13,132],"to":[14,77,144],"ensure":[15],"technological":[16],"sovereignty.":[17],"This":[18,105],"paper":[19],"examines":[20],"whether":[21],"tiered":[22,57],"open-source":[23],"mandates-with":[24],"differentiated":[25,108],"requirements":[26],"for":[27],"platforms":[28,72],"independents-can":[30],"optimize":[31,131],"ecosystem":[32,49,146],"innovation.":[33],"We":[34],"develop":[35],"solve":[37],"a":[38,152,161],"tripartite":[39],"Stackelberg":[40],"differential":[41],"game":[42],"model":[43],"incorporating":[44],"differences":[45],"in":[46,133],"compliance":[47,89],"costs,":[48],"dependence,":[50],"appropriation":[52],"capabilities.":[53],"Analysis":[54],"shows":[55],"that":[56,123],"mandates":[58,109],"outperform":[59],"uniform":[60],"ones":[61],"when":[62],"heterogeneity":[63,129],"exceeds":[64],"threshold":[65],"levels,":[66],"optimally":[67],"imposing":[68],"stricter":[69],"rules":[70],"on":[71,127],"(θD∈[0.60,0.75])":[73],"offering":[75],"flexibility":[76],"independents":[78],"(θI∈[0.25,0.40]).":[79],"Ecosystem":[80],"health":[81,149],"improvements":[82],"range":[83],"from":[84],"15-40%,":[85],"peaking":[86],"under":[87],"high":[88],"cost":[90],"asymmetry":[91],"(λD/λI>2.0).":[92],"Key":[93],"boundary":[94],"conditions":[95],"are":[96],"identified,":[97],"an":[99,111],"adaptive":[100],"decision":[101],"framework":[102],"is":[103],"proposed.":[104],"research":[106],"formalizes":[107],"as":[110],"endogenous":[112],"policy":[113],"variable,":[114],"quantifies":[115],"dominance":[116],"conditions,":[117],"provides":[119],"actionable":[120],"thresholds,":[121],"demonstrating":[122],"calibrated":[124],"differentiation":[125],"based":[126],"structural":[128],"can":[130],"infrastructure":[135],"governance.":[136],"Throughout":[137],"this":[138],"paper,":[139],"\\"health":[140],"improvement\\"":[141],"refers":[142],"specifically":[143],"the":[145],"architect's":[147],"composite":[148],"function":[150],"H(KD,KI),":[151],"metric":[154],"scale,":[156],"diversity,":[157],"balance,":[159],"not":[160],"full":[162],"measure":[163],"social":[165],"welfare.":[166]}

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
PLoS ONE
Published
2026-09-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0340713
Primary Topic
Open Source Software Innovations
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
article

Can tiered open-source mandates optimize innovation? A differential game study osn platform vs. independent project dynamics in foundation software ecosystems

Yongxi Yi, Bingyang Wu
PLoS ONE
Open Source Software Innovations
article

Can tiered open-source mandates optimize innovation? A differential game study osn platform vs. independent project dynamics in foundation software ecosystems

Yongxi Yi, Bingyang Wu
article en

Abstract

The governance of AI foundation software ecosystems requires balancing platform scale and independent innovation to ensure technological sovereignty. This paper examines whether tiered open-source mandates-with differentiated requirements for platforms and independents-can optimize ecosystem innovation. We develop and solve a tripartite Stackelberg differential game model incorporating differences in compliance costs, ecosystem dependence, and appropriation capabilities. Analysis shows that tiered mandates outperform uniform ones when heterogeneity exceeds threshold levels, optimally imposing stricter rules on platforms (θD∈[0.60,0.75]) and offering flexibility to independents (θI∈[0.25,0.40]). Ecosystem health improvements range from 15-40%, peaking under high compliance cost asymmetry (λD/λI>2.0). Key boundary conditions are identified, and an adaptive decision framework is proposed. This research formalizes differentiated mandates as an endogenous policy variable, quantifies dominance conditions, and provides actionable thresholds, demonstrating that calibrated differentiation based on structural heterogeneity can optimize innovation in AI infrastructure governance. Throughout this paper, "health improvement" refers specifically to the ecosystem architect's composite health function H(KD,KI), a governance metric of scale, diversity, and balance, not a full measure of social welfare.

PLoS ONEVol. 21(9)
Hunan University of Science and Technology (CN), Dhonburi Rajabhat University (TH), Hunan University of Technology (CN)
Key Research Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences in Sichuan Province
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Openalex Percentile: Top 5%
Open Source Software Innovations
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.