Open Source Licences

It is better to begin with a thorough understanding of the definition of open source. The Open Source Initiative (OSI) has set down certain criteria for open source software. Any software that provides the source code does not automatically qualify as open source. It should satisfy the following criteria:

• It should be available for free distribution.
• The source code should be made available free of cost. Deliberate obfuscated code and intermediate forms of code like the pre-processor outputs are not allowed.
• The licence should allow others to build works derived from the main project,and the works derived from the main project should also be distributed under the same licence.
• The integrity of the author's source code.
• There should be no discrimination against person or a group. This clause ensures that the code is not restricted to within a firm, or discriminated based on groups like developers, designers, etc.
• There should be no discrimination against the field of application.
• Regarding the distribution of the licence: The rights attached to the program must apply to all whom the program is redistributed to without the need to execute an additional licence by those parties.
• The licence must not restrict other software from being used in the same system.
• The software must be technology neutral.

Once the software satisfied all the above criteria it is called open source.