OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARES: AN OVERVIEW

Abstract

In the recent years open source software has altered the contour of software industry. Open source and commercial software are the prominent models of software licensing. Open source software (OSS) licensing model, unlike the conventional proprietary software development model of limited access, allows users of the software under certain terms and conditions, to redistribute, modify and add to the software program. OSS also emphasizes the users of the software on unrestricted accessibility and availability of source code. OSS has been developed through a collaborative effort in which larger groups of people interact and contribute the elements of the final software. So, Open source Software (OSS) can be defined as“software whose source code is openly published, is often developed by voluntary efforts and is usually available at no charge under a license defined by the Open Source Initiative which prevents it from being redistributed under a more restrictive license.” This means that software and technologies developed under an OSS license are available in source code format, allowing the modification by anyone who finds a need to do so, as well as the redistribution of OSS without financial or legal ramifications (provided this is done within the scope of the applicable OSS license). An example of an OSS license is the “General Public License (GPL)” authored by the Free Software Foundationthat today governs the use of a huge proportion of all OSS released today. In brief, its states that software licensed under the GPL will remain free under any circumstances, and that it cannot be appropriated by anyone in a closed/proprietary manner. It also mandates that anyone is free to distribute the software, and may modify it as required, provided that such modifications are given back to the community so that others may benefit from the modifications. Conventional software development is governed by IP laws which were predominantly practiced over the past few decades. The open source movement necessitates scrutiny; more than just being a new-fangled approach, it catalyzes debate regarding both the mode of software production and its protection. It is being used to propel arguments to revisit IP jurisprudence. After all, the intention of the intellectual property-software system is to catalyze innovation and ultimately serve the society.