Open source books

The open source approach has revolutionised software development. The idea is simple: programmers share code and develop products together. The Linux operating system is the most famous example.

Now, it seems, some writers are taking a similar approach. A report on MercuryNews.com, spotted by Guardian Online, quotes several authors who have put their books online to be edited.

J.D. Lascia, who has created a website where people can edit chapters of his books as he writes it, said:

"I realized the underlying theme of what I'm writing about is that we're entering an era where creative people are sort of losing control of their work, and it's not all bad," Lascia said. "I wanted to experience that. I didn't want that experience of a big media conglomerate where you say `Take it or leave it.'"