Links - Centre for Open Software Innovation : University of Waikato

Useful links

Useful links in the open software world:

Free Software Foundation (FSF)

The Free Software Foundation, founded in 1985, is dedicated to promoting computer users' right to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute computer programs. The FSF promotes the development and use of free (as in freedom) software -- particularly the GNU operating system and its GNU/Linux variants -- and free documentation for free software. The FSF also helps to spread awareness of the ethical and political issues of freedom in the use of software, and its Web sites, located at fsf.org and gnu.org, are an important source of information about GNU/Linux.

-- taken from the FSF homepage

Open Source Initiative (OSI)

The OSI are the stewards of the Open Source Definition (OSD) and the community-recognized body for reviewing and approving licenses as OSD-conformant.

The OSI is actively involved in Open Source community-building, education, and public advocacy to promote awareness and the importance of non-proprietar software. OSI Board members frequently travel the world to attend Open Source conferences and events, meet with open source developers and users, and to discuss with executives from the public and private sectors about how Open Source technologies, licenses, and models of development can provide economic and strategic advantages.

--taken from the OSI homepage

Open source licenses

Overview of Open Source licenses (OSI webpage)
The Need for Open Source Software in Machine Learning by Sören Sonnenburg et al. (see Appendix A)
GNU General Public License (GPL)
- License
- Overview of compatible and incompatible licenses
- Violations - if you catch somebody violating the GPL

Software Freedom Law Center

To ensure success, FOSS projects need more than a well–chosen license. The processes by which FOSS is produced must ensure that the rights of the FOSS community are preserved and promoted. We must avoid third-party intellectual property claims, which — as the SCO controversy has shown — have striking potential to disrupt adoption of FOSS. Our practice brings together the world’s leading expertise in all the fields of law that FOSS projects may encounter or be affected by. We can counsel our clients on the big picture, beyond today’s specific problems, helping projects reach their long-term goals safely and efficiently so hackers can concentrate on making great software.

--taken from the Software Freedom Law Center homepage

International Free and Open Source Software Law Review

The International Free and Open Source Software Law Review (IFOSS L. Rev.) is a collaborative legal publication aiming to increase knowledge and understanding among lawyers about Free and Open Source Software issues. Topics covered include copyright, licence implementation, licence interpretation, software patents, open standards, case law and statutory changes.

--taken from the International Free and Open Source Software Law Review homepage

New Zealand Open Source Society (NZOSS)

The New Zealand Open Source Society is an incorporated society set up to protect, advocate and advance the use of Open Source Software in New Zealand.

--taken from the NZOSS homepage

Open Advice

Open Advice is a knowledge collection from a wide variety of Free Software projects. It answers the question what 42 prominent contributors would have liked to know when they started so you can get a head-start no matter how and where you contribute.

-- taken from the Open Advice homepage