Whitepaper:
Four Steps to Creating an Effective Open Source Policy - Download this whitepaper to learn more about creating and implementing an open source policy.
Blog:
How to Create An Open Source Policy - Creating an open source software policy is a strategic imperative for organizations in the software industry. But what does a strategic policy include, and how can you implement one?
What is Open Source Policy?
An open source policy provides the framework for an open source governance program. The open source policy contains the rules and principles by which open source software will be utilized in an organization and how that utilization will be managed. The policy document is the initial basis for employee education on the management of open source software, and it expresses and establishes the company culture towards open source management and compliance.
Many open source policies are simply legal views on license compliance; however the best policies are those that also address the operational aspects of using open source software. The scope of an open source policy will typically cover the following topics:
- Internal Usage of Open Source Software
- Release and Redistribution of Open Source Software
- Licenses Compliance
- Open Source Request, Evaluation & Approval
- Support & Maintenance
- Community Participation