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Honest question. If I write some code and release it on Github with an MIT license, do I need permission from OSI to call my project "Open Source"? Is there a l

• AsyncAwait 8y ago
  > Honest question. If I write some code and release it on Github with an MIT license, do I need permission from OSI to call my project "Open Source"? MIT is an approved license, so yes. > is a legal requirement? No.
• joshsimmons 8y ago
  Fair question :-) And the answer is no, you would not need OSI's permission to call your project open source -- because you'd be using the MIT license which has been reviewed and approved by the OSI. You can find the list of approved licenses, along with information about the review and approval process, over at https://opensource.org/licenses https://opensource.org/licenses
  • singlow 8y ago
    You can call your software open source no matter what license you use. People may harrass you, but there is no legal restriction on the use of the term and OSI cannot sue you.
• CydeWeys 8y ago
  You don't need anyone's permission to call anything "open source". There's certainly no legal requirement. Note, however, if this language starts making its way into contracts, and you're calling something "open source" that isn't actually open source by any standard meanings of the term, then you could be in trouble. But releasing something under a common open source license is prima facie open source, so no problems there.