Industry experts at State of Open Con25 in London discuss how the true meaning of open source extends far beyond just licensing considerations, highlighting the importance of governance, transparency, and community involvement.
Beyond Legal Definitions
While the Open Source Initiative (OSI) provides clear licensing definitions, experts argue that the spirit of open source encompasses much more. Key aspects include:
- Project governance and transparency
- Community input and involvement
- Development process accessibility
- Long-term project viability
The Android Example
Android serves as a prime example of this complexity. Despite being technically open source under the Apache 2.0 license, questions arise about its true "openness" due to:
- Google's direct control over the project
- Limited community input on the roadmap
- Anti-fragmentation agreements with manufacturers
AI and Open Source
The debate has intensified with the rise of AI, particularly around projects like Meta's Llama and China's DeepSeek. While these projects may have open source licenses, questions remain about:
- Training data transparency
- Commercial restrictions
- Regulatory implications