The Open Source Definition

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The Open Source Definition (OSD) is a document published by the <a href="/facts/Open_Source_Initiative/sJtjc2EF">Open Source Initiative</a>. Derived from <a href="/facts/Bruce_Perens/qlBakkpe">Bruce Perens</a>' <a href="/facts/Debian_Free_Software_Guidelines/mt8g8qyJ">Debian Free Software Guidelines</a>, the definition is the most common standard for <a href="/facts/Open-source_software/HzTaB8E9">open-source software</a>. The definition has ten criteria, such as requiring <a href="/facts/Source-available_software/axtrf73j">freely accessed source code</a> and granting the open-source rights to everyone who receives a copy of the program. Covering both <a href="/facts/Copyleft/DHjTyl7C">copyleft</a> and <a href="/facts/Permissive_license/TFoufrub">permissive licenses</a>, it is effectively identical to the definition of <a href="/facts/Free_software/IaoVtJXn">free software</a>, but motivated by more pragmatic and business-friendly considerations. The Open Source Initiative's board votes on proposals of licenses to certify that they are compliant with the definition, and maintains a list of compliant licenses on its website. The definition has been adapted into the <a href="/facts/Open_Knowledge_Foundation/phCkpqn0">Open Knowledge Foundation</a>'s <a href="/facts/Open_Definition/TuFcnjRK">Open Definition</a> for <a href="/facts/Open_knowledge/Aw6ucCcR">open knowledge</a> and into <a href="/facts/Open_hardware/UgCHeVsm">open hardware</a> definitions.
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The Open Source Definition open-in-new

The Open Source Definition