resource center
  See your link here
|
Computerworld -
Nothing in life is really free, says Larry Rosen, and that includes open-source software. As open-source gains traction in business, it's increasingly important to understand the licenses under which it's used. Rosen, who formerly taught programming and database design at Stanford University, is also a founding partner of Rosenlaw & Einschlag, a technology law firm in Los Altos Hills and Ukiah, Calif., and the author of Open Source Licensing: Software Freedom and Intellectual Property Law (Prentice Hall PTR, 2004). He talked with Computerworld's Kathleen Melymuka about rights and obligations under open-source.
As an IT manager, why do I need to know or care about open-source licensing? Because you or your company is, or soon will be, using open-source software.
I never realized that licensing was even an issue in open-source. Why do I need a license for something that's free? Because of the problem with the word free. It means too many different things in the language. Birds are free to fly. Is open-source software free in that sense?
Then what does it mean? It means you are given the freedom to do certain things with the software -- things like use it, copy it, change it, combine it with other stuff. Because of that, what's important is the license under which those freedoms are protected.
What are the key things to look for in an open-source license? What you need to look for is "What am I being licensed to do?" and "What are the conditions that I'm accepting when I take that license?" And therein lies a tale.
Larry Rosen, the author of Open Source Licensing: Software Freedom and Intellectual Property Law.
Can you give me an example of something that might catch a company by surprise? The one that most people are concerned about is if you create a derivative work and distribute it, you're required to disclose your changes and distribute it under the same [open-source] license.
Then I can't use open-source and customize my own software? You can. For internal uses, it's your business. But if you choose to share it with some other
HP Technology Guide for Scalable Business Solutions
Download This Resource Now!
Enterprise Application Delivery: No User Left Behind
Gain the ability to deliver applications to all users, using any device, across any network.
Gartner: Magic Quadrant for Application Delivery Controllers, 2009
The market for products to improve the delivery of application software over networks remains dynamic and innovative. Vendors focused on solving enterprises' most-pressing...
Data Protection is not an insurance policy -you cannot buy-back lost data
Find out why you need to maintain access to critical information to run your business and remain competitive.
Chiquita selects Workday's fresh approach to Human Capital Management
A fresh approach to meet IT and HR objectives.
ITIL in Tough Economic Times
Are you looking for new inspiration to move forward with ITIL in these tough economic times?
The ROI of Software-As-A-Service
A Total Economic Impact™ Analysis Uncovers Long-Term Value In SaaS
IT Governance Podcast: IT Provider Forecasts $10 Million in Savings
In this podcast, learn how OTS was able to prioritize, then deliver, on the mission-critical demands and, in the process, project $10 million...
Sign up to receive updates on the latest Software resources
CIO
Computerworld
CSO
DEMO
GamePro
Games.net
IDC
IDG
IDG Connect
IDG Knowledge Hub
IDG TechNetwork
IDG Ventures
IDG.net
InfoWorld
ITwhitepapers
ITworld
JavaWorld
LinuxWorld
Macworld
Network World
PC World
The Industry Standard
Copyright © 1994 - 2009 Computerworld Inc. All
rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium
without express written permission ofComputerworld Inc. is prohibited. Computerworld and Computerworld.com and the respective logos are trademarks of International Data Group Inc. |
