Linux Foundation is launching the Open Compliance Program to help all the open source developer to address the complexity of the open source license, comprehensive training, tools and services. The open source community is able to develop great software quickly and effectively. Usually open source stand alone, but you can find lot of open source solutions are join together and become a great applications. Some of them are use in term of use and not break the license of the open source. But some of them are not. That’s why Linux Foundation launched the open compliance program in the first place.
The Linux Foundation has developed a set of open source tools, training curricula and a new self-administered assessment checklist that will allow companies to ensure compliance in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Open Compliance Program also includes a new data exchange standard so companies and their suppliers can easily report software information in a standard way.
Some of the big name players that support this compliance are Adobe, Intel, AMD, Google, Cisco, Nokia, Sony, Samsung, Motorola and many more. The program is primarily comprised of self-administered training modules, but there are also some automated tools being rolled out to help programmatically identify license compliance issues.
The six elements of the Linux Foundation’s Open Compliance Program are:
1. Tools
The Linux Foundation has released initial versions of these tools as open source projects and urges other developers to contribute to them. They include:
a. Dependency Checker
b. Bill of Material (BoM) Difference Checker
c. The Code Janitor
2. Self-Assessment Checklist
The Linux Foundation has developed an extensive checklist of compliance best practices in addition to elements that must be available in an open source compliance program to ensure its success. The checklist will be formally launched in q4 of 2010.
3. The SPDX™ Standard and Workgroup
Enables companies to standardize their bills of material to ease the discovery and labeling of open source components in their products; this is especially important for consumer electronics manufacturers who assemble parts from a variety of suppliers into their shipping products.
4. A Compliance Directory and Rapid Alert System
The Linux Foundation has created a directory of compliance officers at companies using Linux and Open Source software in their commercial products so communication can be eased, information related to open source licenses can be easily disseminated and actions can be coordinated.
5. Training and Education
The Linux Foundation now offers the industry’s more comprehensive compliance resource for training and informational materials. Training will be offered live on-site or online. Information assets include free white papers, articles, and webinars available from noted compliance experts.
6. Community
The above resources join the existing FOSSBazaar workgroup which has a thriving and informed community of software and compliance professionals.
Source from Linux Foundation Compliance Program
