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  • The Open Source Alternative: Understanding Risks and Leveraging Opportunities
    The Open Source Alternative: Understanding Risks and Leveraging Opportunities
    by Heather J. Meeker
  • A Primer on Intellectual Property Licensing
    A Primer on Intellectual Property Licensing
    by Heather Meeker
  • The Next Wave of Technologies: Opportunities in Chaos
    The Next Wave of Technologies: Opportunities in Chaos
    by Phil Simon
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Monday
Oct242011

When is Open Source not Open Source?

A recent article in Network World contained some interesting caveat emptors about marketing open source software.  The first part of the article -- discussing whether open source is really free or secure -- is nothing new.  But then, the article mentions this:  "Some software vendors playing fast and loose with the rules have slapped an "open source" label on software that in fact turns out to be a "free to download and use" version of proprietary software that cannot be altered or distributed."

This raises an interesting potential legal issue that has not yet come to fruition.  Key "trademarks" in the open source space such as "open source" and "Linux" are probably largely genericized, so it seems unlikely that claims will arise as to whether inaccurately calling a product these things is a trademark infringement.  However, I have been surprised not to see a fraud or false advertising claim based on a vendor identifying software as "open source" when it is not.   It's unclear what the damages might be if the software is gratis but not libre, but that has never stopped a class action plaintiff's lawyer, as far as I know.

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