The open source software movement has become one of the most active and energetic areas of software development and human collaboration. In short, coders create and distribute modifiable, and usually free, software packages. These range from the Apache web server, the Firefox web browser, OpenOffice, through to 3D animation (Blender), content management (Joomla) and blogs (Wordpress).

In the last five years the movement has influenced the non-software creative sector, notably Creative Commons and Wikipedia. The content of which is distributed under a General Public License (GPL), making it effectively free to copy, modify and distribute. With less fanfare but on similar lines, video social networks such as YouTube have seen a growth in unmediated collaborations.

This list highlights some of the key open source freeware (Web 2.0) available to support DIY sales.

Adsense
Offers a contextual advertising solution to web publishers, delivering text-based Google AdWords ads that are relevant to site content pages.

Archive.org
As well as hosting the only historic snapshot of the web, Brewster Kahle’s service also offers tens of thousands of hours of CC licensed video for use including old adverts, propaganda films, news reels and stock footage.

Blogger
Blogging freeware. For a comparison of the best blog software go to the online journalism review. And for a blog legal guide go to Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Breakthrough Distribution
Self distribution, retail distribution and hybrid distribution resources.

Broadcast Machine
An open source system which allows the end user to publish a channel of videos on their website which people can subscribe to via iTunes or RSS, and even distribute files as BitTorrents (which shares the bandwidth costs).

Creative Commons Licenses
Aims to provide a ‘wired’ 21st century copyright framework for the multitude of uses which fall outside the standard restrictions of IP law. It claims to be consumer friendly in that it encourages redistribution. For those who cannot afford an IP lawyer but want some kind of copyright protection, creators can apply a custom built license to their work, specifying aspects such as commercial use and the creation of derivative works. Some Producers use Creative Commons licenses to get widespread distribution and awareness, increasing the chance of sufficient recognition to get a sale.

del.icio.us
A ‘Social Bookmarking’ facility that can attract / interest an audience by ‘tagging’ your online presence.

Digg
A community-based news article popularity website which combines social bookmarking, blogging and syndication, with a form of non-hierarchical, democratic editorial control.

Drupal
A free software package that allows an individual or a community of users to easily publish, manage and organise a wide variety of content on a website.

Facebook
The social utility that connects you with the people around you.

Flickr
Online photo management and sharing application. Flickr basic accounts are free and enable uploading; organising; sharing; making cards, labels, frames and keeping in touch. At publication, some 32m photos were available on Flickr.com with some form of Creative Commons license, creating a huge pool of sometimes world class images that can be reused, often with no more stipulation than a credit.

Joomla!
An award-winning Content Management System (CMS) that will help you build websites and other powerful online applications for free.

The Trailer Mash
Mashups is a phenomena with roots in the live visuals / VJ world. Mixing together a number of often contrasting pieces of video (or music) to create a single form, which in the case of the Little Miss Sunshine (horror) or Requiem for a Toy Story can arguably widen the audience to people who may otherwise be unaware of the film

MySpace
A global site, offering film-makers a shop window; with integrated email, forum, community, video, weblog space.

Phonecasting
An online social network that brings you podcasting, phonecasting, mobile and video content. Plus simple tools for you to publish your own content to over 2 billion phones worldwide. Offers services that allow you to create revenue from your film.

Podcasting Tools
Subscribe to get prompts to download the latest video and audio content.

RSS
Rich Site Summary or, more commomly, Really Simple Syndication (RSS) is a format for delivering regularly changing web content. Many news-related sites, weblogs and other online publishers syndicate their content as an RSS feed. For more information watch this YouTube video about RSS.

Search engine ranking
Get some tips on search engines. Or for further information take a look at Search Engine Watch, SEO Wiki entry and a list of Wiki search engines.

The Auteurs
Online world cinema viewing site.

The Workbook Project
An open source social experiment, the workbook is meant to be spread, edited and grow.

Twitter
Social networking and micro-blogging service that utilises instant messaging, SMS and web interface.

Withoutabox

A suite of online tools that offers film-makers a channel to manage the distribution process themselves. Production and festivals to distribution and connecting with fans.