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Open Source Initiative - Changes to License Review Process

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Open Source Initiative - Changes to License Review Process
FOSDEM 2023

The Open Source Initiative is working on making improvements to its license review process and has a set of recommendations for changes it is considering making, available [link to be provided]. This session will review the proposed changes and also take feedback from the participants on what it got right, what it got wrong, and what it might have missed.

The License Review Working Group of the Open Source Initiative was created to improve the license review process. In the past, the process has been criticized as unpredictable, difficult to navigate, and applying undisclosed requirements. The Working Group developed a set of recommendations for revising the process for reviewing and approving or rejecting licenses submitted to the OSI. The recommendations include separate review standards for new and legacy licenses, a revised group of license categories, and some specific requirements for license submissions. The recommendations are available [link to be provided] and the OSI is in the feedback stage of its process, seeking input on the recommendations. The session will review the proposed changes and also take feedback from the participants on what it got right, what it got wrong, and what it might have missed.

Note that the following is out of scope for the Working Group:

A review of the Open Source Definition itself Replacement tooling for the license-review email list

Speakers: Pamela Chestek