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Open Source means OSI-approved license in the software context. Some government examples of this being explicitly mentioned: - Canada/British Columbia: https:/

by pojntfx 9mo ago

Open Source means OSI-approved license in the software context. Some government examples of this being explicitly mentioned: - Canada/British Columbia: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/government/services-for-government-and-broader-public-sector/information-technology-services/standards-files/1_02-v1_0-guidelines_on_the_use_of_open_source_software.pdf https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/government/services-for-go... - European Union (this applies to all EU member states): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2847/oj/eng https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2847/oj/eng - search for "Free and open-source software is understood" in the text - Germany (the EU definition already applies here, but for good measure): https://www.bsi.bund.de/DE/Themen/Verbraucherinnen-und-Verbraucher/Informationen-und-Empfehlungen/Cyber-Sicherheitsempfehlungen/Updates-Browser-Open-Source-Software/Open-Source-Vorabversionen-von-Betriebssystemen/open-source-vorabversionen-von-betriebssystemen_node.html https://www.bsi.bund.de/DE/Themen/Verbraucherinnen-und-Verbr... Words have meaning!

evanelias 9mo ago
Your first link (Canada/BC) offers guidelines for BC government usage of open source software. In this type of situation, the OSI's list of approved licenses (and OSD in general) is very helpful, since it avoids massive duplicative legal overhead of evaluating software licenses. But in my opinion, that has little bearing on whether or not people should strictly follow this definition in an international public forum. As far as I can see, your second link (applies to all EU member states) makes no mention of the OSI whatsoever, and uses a definition that is far briefer and less specific than the OSD. I cannot evaluate the third link (Germany) as I don't speak German and automatic translation may introduce subtle changes.

by pojntfx 9mo ago

evanelias 9mo ago

Your first link (Canada/BC) offers guidelines for BC government usage of open source software. In this type of situation, the OSI's list of approved licenses (and OSD in general) is very helpful, since it avoids massive duplicative legal overhead of evaluating software licenses. But in my opinion, that has little bearing on whether or not people should strictly follow this definition in an international public forum. As far as I can see, your second link (applies to all EU member states) makes no mention of the OSI whatsoever, and uses a definition that is far briefer and less specific than the OSD. I cannot evaluate the third link (Germany) as I don't speak German and automatic translation may introduce subtle changes.