Open Source Initiative (OSI)
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Open Source Initiative (OSI)
An organization that facilitates the interests of those involved with OSS. Open source is not just about having access to the source code.
It is considered good practice to base it on the following declaration:
1. Free Redistribution
This license does not restrict the sale or provisioning of this software as a component of collective software distribution, which includes programs from different sources. No royalties or other fees may be demanded for such sales.
2. Source Code
The program must include source code and distribution must be possible using the source code, not just the compiled version. If the product is not distributed with the source code, then a means of obtaining the source code at a reasonable cost must be publicly disclosed, and ideally it should be possible to download it for free via the internet. The source code must be in a preferred form for the programmer to change the program. Deliberately obfuscated source code is not allowed. Intermediate forms such as preprocessor or translator output are not allowed.
3. Derived Works
The license should allow modifications or derivative works and ensure that such modifications or derivative works can be distributed under the same conditions as the original software license.
4. Integrity of The Author's Source Code
If the license allows distribution of modified source code as a "patch" file together with the original source code for the purpose of modifying the program at build time, then it may restrict the distribution of modified source code in the form of the modified program. The license must explicitly allow the distribution of software constructed from modified source code. The license may require derived works to have a different name or version number from the original software.
5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups
The license should not discriminate against any individuals or groups.
6. No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor
The license should not restrict anyone from making use of the program in a specific field of endeavor. For example, it should not restrict the use of the program in business, or for genetic research.
7. Distribution of License
The rights attached to the program must apply to all who receive a copy of the program. No additional license is required to be entered into by any party receiving the program.
8. License Must Not Be Specific to a Product
The rights attached to the program must not depend on the program's being part of a particular software distribution. If the program is extracted from that distribution and used or distributed within the terms of the program's license, all parties to whom the program is redistributed should have the same rights as those that are granted in conjunction with the original software distribution.
9. License Must Not Restrict Other Software
The license must not place restrictions on other software that is distributed along with the licensed software. For example, the license must not insist that all other programs distributed on the same medium be open-source software.
10. License Must Be Technologically Neutral
No provision of the license may be predicated on any individual technology or style of interface.
An organization aimed at regulating the interests of developers and users of OSS. As one of the early OSS programs, Netscape emerged in 1998 and gained popularity, making it a perfect time to establish the organization.