Open Source shaking up document databases, setting new standards

Currently there is no Open Source common interface for document databases, but FerretDB is driving forward with a goal to change that. The founders of FerretDB, an Open Source document database using PostgreSQL as the database backend, is working with different stakeholders on developing a standard for document databases, the same way as SQL was …

OSI’s comments to US Patent and Trademark Office

OSI submitted its comments to the United States Patent and Trademark Office to defend Open Source from patent trolls. A few days ago the Linux Foundation, Electronic Frontier Foundation and Unified Patents asked for the community to send their comments. Below is the text of the letter we sent. June 16, 2023Katherine K. VidalUnder Secretary …

Digital activists and open movement leaders share their perspective with Open Future in new research report, “Shifting tides: the open movement at a turning point”

Open Future conducted a study to gain a better understanding of the current state of the open movement, as seen through the eyes of people actively involved in its endeavors and leading organizations within the movement. Open Future believes that a shared movement identity and a shared advocacy agenda can make the collective effort stronger. …

Now is the time to define Open Source AI

You’ve seen so many announcements about new releases of AI large language models, foundational models, tooling, services all claiming to be “open” or “Open Source”. But none of them are shared with the same conditions. Look carefully and you’ll find that each adds some restriction somewhere. That’s far from the permissionless, clear message that Open …

Action needed to protect against patent trolls

The Linux Foundation, Unified Patents and Electronic Frontier Foundation hosted a webinar this week to give an overview of the serious issue of patent trolls and the recent proposal from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to change the current rules for protecting and defending Open Source software from patent trolls. OSI featured …

The vital role of Open Source maintainers facing the Cyber Resilience Act

This year’s Maintainer Month feels different given what’s happening with the European Cyber Resilience Act. Their role is under more pressure than usual and yet, it’s often misunderstood.  Open Source maintainers are the cornerstone of collaborative software development. They dedicate their time and expertise to ensure the smooth functioning and growth of Open Source projects. …

Why advocacy and outreach matter

Despite a 25-year history, Open Source is still misunderstood or misrepresented. I still read about developers, a cohort you’d expect to know better, arguing whether software licensed with the GNU GPL is Open Source because “one cannot resell it” (hint: the GNU GPL doesn’t prevent users from selling software.) This sort of confusion reaches the …

Salesforce: Why we sponsor OSI

This month, we’re pleased to spotlight one of our sponsors, Salesforce, and learn why  Open Source is important to their organization. Salesforce is a cloud-based software company with applications that help businesses manage customers in every step of the customer journey, from lead to loyalty. The service Salesforce provides its customers is profoundly based on …

Containers can be safer with Open Source

Container adoption is soaring, thanks to Open Source. The majority of projects and tools for container management in the cloud-native ecosystem are Open Source; one example is SlimToolkit, a tool supported by Slim.AI. SlimToolkit addresses one of the most critical issues in the cloud-native ecosystem today: container security. Today, developers are increasingly building their cloud-native, …

Results of 2023 elections of OSI board of directors

The polls just closed, the results are in. Congratulations to the returning directors Aeva Black, and Catharina Maracke, and the newly elected director Anne-Marie Scott. Anne-Marie Scott has been confirmed and joins as a director elected by the Affiliate organizations. She’ll take the seat that was occupied by Hong-Phuc Dang who resigned in June 2022. …

OSI to hold in person License Clinic workshop

OSI is pleased to announce our 2023 Open Source Initiative License Clinic, an in-person event to be held April 4th in Washington D.C. This one day workshop will cover advanced topics on open source software licenses of interest to the US federal government as well as emerging issues such as the confluence of AI models, …

Meet the 2023 candidates for OSI’s board

The nominations for the Open Source Initiative board of elections just closed, March 6th. It’s time for voters to meet the candidates. The OSI board of directors will renew three of its seats with an open election process among its full individual members and affiliates. We will be holding two elections: Individual members will elect …

ClearlyDefined gets a new community manager with a vision toward the future

ClearlyDefined has a new community manager! Nick Vidal has joined the project hosted by the Open Source Initiative (OSI) that helps Open Source projects thrive by putting essential licensing data at teams’ fingertips. Vidal comes with 20 years of experience developing Open Source communities and will lead ClearlyDefined to its next phase. He previously served …

How OSI will renew its board of directors in 2023

In the next few weeks, the OSI board of directors will renew three of its seats with an open election process among its full individual members and affiliates. There will be two elections in March, running in parallel: The affiliate organizations will elect one directorIndividual members will elect two directors 2023 elections timeline The role of the board …

Open Source Initiative joins the Digital Public Goods Alliance

OSI to contribute to Digital Public Goods Alliance’s mission to address world’s most pressing economic challenges by furthering adoption of Open Source software BRUSSELS – February 4, 2023–Today, the Open Source Initiative (OSI) announced it has joined the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA) as a new member. The DPGA is part of the response to the United …