Open Source
Do you use open source software?
Whether you are an end user concerned about technology coming in to your carefully controlled corporate IT environment or a software developer or device manufacturer considering including open source in your latest product, understanding the legal issues relating to use of open source is critical. Through our comprehensive license matrix, briefer series, training classes and client-specific counseling, we help you use open source in a way that makes sense for your company.
Are you a software developer or device manufacturer considering incorporating open source into your product?
When you decide to distribute open source as part of your own proprietary technology product, you are making a decision with the potentially far reaching impact on your own separately developed intellectual property, your patent portfolio and the scope of your liability to downstream users. With over a hundred different open source licenses in common usage today, you need to have a clear understanding of how each license you encounter works and how it may affect your legal right and liabilities moving forward. We help navigate you through the process of reviewing and understanding open source licenses and determining which open source software is appropriate for inclusion in your proprietary product.
Do you develop or distribute open source software?
We help software companies who desire to release select code or entire products as open source choose the right license and contribution agreements and otherwise develop the right legal framework for their open source offering. We also advise "dual-model" open source vendors who offer both proprietary and open source products and services.
The Smithline Jha Open Source Advising Practice assists clients with:
- License Matrix: a comprehensive matrix categorizing all major open source licenses
- Briefer Series: a multi-part series covering open source from basics to the most complex issues
- Policy Creation Guide: step by step guide with pre-drafted options to help you create the right open source usage policy for your company
- Custom Training & Presentations: On-site presentations addressing your company's specific open source questions and needs
- Advice: We advise our clients on all aspects of use and distribution of open source software