The Open Source Initiative

Open source software is software that can be freely used, changed, and shared (in modified or unmodified form) by anyone. Open source software is made by many people, and distributed under licenses that comply with the Open Source Definition.

The Open Source Initiative (OSI) is a global non-profit that supports and promotes the open source movement. Among other things, we maintain the Open Source Definition, and a list of licenses that comply with that definition. See our about and history pages for more.

OSI Membership

OSI is a member-based organization — join and support us!

Transformation News

Nov 21, 2013: Hello OSI Community Members As our new General Manager, I'd like to take a few moments to introduce myself, and also provide a bit more information about both the new GM role itself, as well as some of the new programs identified by the OSI Board of Directors to extend and enable our mission. Read more...

Oct 22, 2013: OSI Names New General Manager: Newly Appointed General Manager Patrick Masson Joins OSI from University of Massachusetts. Read more...

July 24, 2013: Election Result: Individual Members elect Richard Fontana as new OSI Director. Read more...

June 14, 2013: Board News: OSI opens recruitment for General Manager. Read more...

May 11, 2013: Board Report: The OSI Board has made plans for the election of the first Individual Member Director, as well as to hire OSI's first General Manager. Read more...

May 2, 2013: Affiliates Select New OSI Director Read more...

July 18, 2012: Individual Membership: The next step of OSI's transformation into a member organization starts today! You can become an Individual Member. Read more...

June 18, 2012: Affiliate News: OSI is very pleased to welcome AFUL, The Document Foundation, Outercurve, OW2 and The Wikimedia Foundation as OSI Affiliates. Additionally, OSI invites eligible open source organisations to apply to be come Affiliates. Read more...

Recent Activities

April 27, 2013: OSI To Host DC Metro Open Source Community Summit - register now! Read more...

February 27, 2013: OSI Board Reaches out to Washington D.C. Organizations week of May 6, 2013 - register now!. Read more...

December 15, 2012: The Board are sad to hear of the sudden death of former OSI Board member Raj Mathur. Read more...

October 17, 2012: OSI and OSHWA Sign Agreement: OSI and the Open Source Hardware Association have signed an agreement clarifying their mutual trademark position. Read more...

March 30, 2012: OSI now has a Google+ page. If you use Google+, please add it to one of your circles to stay up-to-date with our news.

January 18, 2012: The Open Source Initiative Board joined many other civil society organisations as co-signatories of this open letter expressing concern about SOPA and PIPA. Read more...