Just a title that will hopefully stimulate discussion :-)
If you link the open source community to the Web and social media tools, you cannot help but wonder whether research should follow this open<=>closed discussion, or at least be open because a part of the research community is willing to. At this stage some of the scientists do choose the open science approach.
Throughout history you had different moments in which research was either exchanged and openly debated between specialists (the golden age of Andalusia for example, where scientists, artists and clergy from all religions could come together and use the tolerance of the Moors (I know recently there were some critical bylines, but still it was exceptional) that where ruling Spain during that era to build on each others wisdom) or suppressed or only limited to the proverbial ivory tower. In contemporary history there was a tendency to keep scientific projects (while they were explored) mainly behind company or university walls, but something is changing or at least slightly rocking the walls of restricted science.
What is your idea? Would you go all the way and share your research findings from the start? Or why would not you?