Introduction to FOSS suing license approach. Released under CC by FOSS User Project www.fossuser.lk

1. Beginners Approach to
FOSS though
Softawre License

2. Hello !
Buddhika Kurera
Editor of the FOSS User Magazine
Associate - Open Source Initiative

3. Accept / Do not Aceept

4. © - Copyright
Any expression of an idea bares copyright

5. Expression of Idea

6. Copyrights
● Grant as soon as it expresses
● Last for more than 100 years
● Restrict copying, distributing, creating derivative
work, exposing to commercial use
● Author permission is needed !

7. Copyrights vs Patent
● Protects the method/ invention
● Should register and follow legal process
● Less lifetime (ex: 20 years)
● Payment required

8. Software
● No patents for Software source codes
● Software – Expression of Idea
● Source codes has copyrights instead patents

9. Source Code
class HelloWorldApp {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("Hello World!");
}
}
http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/getStarted/application/index.html

10. Derivated Work
class HelloOUSL {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("Hello OUSL!");
}
}

11. Another Work
class FirstApp {
public static void main(String[] args) {
sayHello();
}
private void sayHello() {
System.out.println("Hello OUSL!");
}
}

12. Public Domain
Copyrights expired !
Author is giving up his copyrights !

13. License
● A document which gives permission for
something
● Licensor – Party who grants the License
● Licensee – Party who enjoys the Permission
● A Legal agreement/ contract between two
parties

14. Computer Programs
UNIX was appeared in 1969
Programs that work with UNIX are proprietary

15. Evolution of Computers

16. Cost of Software
Price of software increased rapidly

17. GNU Project
● GNU's Not Unix (GNU)
● Started in 1983 by Richard Stallman
● Developed many software that are
FREE !!
● “Software should be FREE !! “

18. Free Software
● Free doesnt mean at no-cost, it means
FREEDOM to,
● Use Software for any purpose
● Share the software
● Change it as per the need
● Share the modification

19. Free and Open Source
Software

20. GNU GPL
● GNU General Public License
● First release in 1989
● GPL V3 is the current version
● First Copyleft license, enabling all 4 Freedom
rules
● www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html

21. Copyleft
● Same as copyright, copyleft is another license
● No limits on share, reproduce, adapt or
distribute
● Restriction : Change of license is prohibited !

22. GNU LGPL
● GNU Lesser General Public License
● First release in 1991
● LGPL V3 is the current version
● Copyleft license for the software but not for the
linked programs/ NOT the derivate work
● www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl.html

23. BSD (Berkeley Software
Distribution)
● First permissive license, 1988
● Grant the freedom to use, share, redistribute
and modify
● No limitation on Re-Licensing
● Business Friendly

24. Apache
● Released by Apache Software Foundation (ASF)
● Current version Apache 2.0
● Allows the freedom to use, share, distribute and
modify
● No limitations on Re-licensing
● Business Friendly License

25. WARRANTY
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY <COPYRIGHT HOLDER> ''AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR
IMPLIEDWARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY ANDFITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO
EVENT SHALL <COPYRIGHT HOLDER> ORCONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT,
INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, ORCONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING,
BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS ORSERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ONANY THEORY
OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDINGNEGLIGENCE
OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN
IFADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

26. Questions and Answers !

27. You want to insert a library/ code snippet to your
project from a third party !!

28. You added GPL licensed code to your software
and want to make it closed source?

29. Can a software has more than one license?

30. How to change a software bearing license X to
GPL license?

32. What happen if GPL licensed software make
closed source with some modifications?

33. www.opensource.org

34. Contact ME
Email
bckurera@fossuser.lk
Facebook
facebook.com/bckurera
Other channels! Just google Buddhika Kurera,
you will find places I am in.