Myths About Open Source: Difference between revisions
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#Perhaps the most common myth is that non-commercial licenses, such as [[Creative Commons Non-Commercial]], or the [[Peer Production License]] - are open source. | #'''If someone says that their project is open source, then the project must really be open source.''' Perhaps the most common myth is that non-commercial (NC) licenses, such as [[Creative Commons Non-Commercial]], or the [[Peer Production License]] - are open source. Just check the [[Open Source Hardware Definition]] to see why NC licenses do not qualify. Yet many people who run NC-licensed projects continue to call their projects open source. Which brings up the second point... | ||
#'''Open Source is a loosely defined, feel-good term.''' No! The term open source is a technical term, and it has been defined by the [[Open Source Initiative]]. So don't fall into a post-truth error by thinking that open source can be used for anything that is open-ish. Many people use the term to make their project/product look good, without fulfilling the requirements of actually being open source. See the [[OSI Definition]] for the requirements in software, and [[Open Source Hardware Definition]] for the requirements in hardware. | |||
#'''Expired patents, or patents in general, make a design open source.''' | |||
Revision as of 14:56, 3 June 2020
Myths
- If someone says that their project is open source, then the project must really be open source. Perhaps the most common myth is that non-commercial (NC) licenses, such as Creative Commons Non-Commercial, or the Peer Production License - are open source. Just check the Open Source Hardware Definition to see why NC licenses do not qualify. Yet many people who run NC-licensed projects continue to call their projects open source. Which brings up the second point...
- Open Source is a loosely defined, feel-good term. No! The term open source is a technical term, and it has been defined by the Open Source Initiative. So don't fall into a post-truth error by thinking that open source can be used for anything that is open-ish. Many people use the term to make their project/product look good, without fulfilling the requirements of actually being open source. See the OSI Definition for the requirements in software, and Open Source Hardware Definition for the requirements in hardware.
- Expired patents, or patents in general, make a design open source.