The Blurred Definition of Open Source

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The concept of being open source is becoming blurred, leading some to intentionally or unintentionally try to take advantage of the term. There is a desire to be open source even if one doesn't adhere to its true meaning. This is a common discussion, where people claim to be open source but actually have additional restrictions on their license, which goes against the established definition.

This week we’re joined by Steve O’Grady, Principal Analyst & Co-founder at RedMonk. The topic today is the definition of open source, the constant pressure on the true definition of the term, and the seemingly small but vocal minority that aim to protect that definition. In Steve’s post Why Open Source Matters, he says “open source is at a crossroads” and there are some seeking to break the definition of open source to one that is more permissive to their desires, and they are closer than ever to achieving that goal. Today’s conversation goes deep on this subject.

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