Open Source Software Licensing - An Introductory Guide

Introduction

It is common practice for software development projects in all sectors to utilise open source material, but not all open source material is created equal.

This makes an understanding of the applicable open source licence terms important for IP/IT lawyers advising businesses in the software industry, or other clients taking licences of bespoke software and/or acquiring or disposing of software assets.

For example, the applicable licence terms may mean that developed software based upon the open source content also needs to be made available on an open source basis, but this is not always the case. Open source material is typically also provided on an ‘as is’ basis, making technical due diligence important.

On the other hand, open source material obtained from a reliable source on terms which are consistent with commercial exploitation of the developed software may provide a useful short cut to avoid reinventing the wheel and may even be the preferred route to accessing relevant industry standard functions.

This new webinar will provide an introduction to this interesting area of software licensing.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• What is open source? An introduction to key concepts
• What are the main open source licences?
• What are the legal issues and potential risks to be aware of?
• How to approach open source material in software licences and business sale and acquisition agreements

This webinar was recorded on 10th May 2021