Shane Coughlan

OpenChain Project, SPDX and Hyperledger

NEW YORK, United States, November 3, 2017 — In 2016 a sub-project began to explore how the benefits of the Blockchain could be leveraged to assist with open source compliance across a complex manufacturing supply chain [1]. It was announced as a new initiative at the Open Source Leadership Summit with a focus on utilizing SPDX + OpenChain + Hyperledger Sawtooth to solve the problem. Initial source code was made available in July 2017 under the Apache license. [2]

A demo of this ‘Software Parts Ledger’ and its support for a Software Parts catalog was given via the Intel booth at the recent Open Source Summit in Prague. The latest status of the Software Parts Ledger at the Open Source Compliance Summit on 16th and 17th November in Yokohama, Japan in a talk entitled ‘Utilizing Blockchain Across The Supply Chain.’ [3]

“The OpenChain Project is delighted to be part of the ‘Software Parts Ledger’ sub-project alongside our contemporaries in SPDX and Hyperledger,” says Shane Coughlan, OpenChain Project Director. “The activity to explore the combination of the OpenChain standard, SPDX identifiers and a Hyperledger record of transactions offer a compelling glimpse into a possible future.”

The OpenChain Project identifies key recommended processes for effective open source management. The project builds trust in open source by making open source license compliance simpler and more consistent.

The OpenChain Specification defines a core set of requirements every quality compliance program must satisfy. The OpenChain Curriculum provides the educational foundation for open source processes and solutions, whilst meeting a key requirement of the OpenChain Specification. OpenChain Conformance allows organizations to display their adherence to these requirements.

The result is that open source license compliance becomes more predictable, understandable and efficient for participants of the software supply chain.

Organizations of all sizes are invited to review the OpenChain Project, to complete our free Online Self-Certification Questionnaire, and to join our community of trust.

Additional Resources

[1] https://lists.spdx.org/pipermail/spdx-tech/2016-December/003199.html

[2] https://github.com/Wind-River/sparts/blob/master/README.md

[3] http://sched.co/CTQe

We’ve Updated the OpenChain Project Website

NEW YORK, United States, November 3, 2017 — As the OpenChain Project has grown, we’ve worked to create more resources for our community. To that end, we’ve updated our website, with updates to pages including News [1], Conformance [2], Translations [3] and Press [4].

“The OpenChain Project is continually seeking to improve how we communicate our work with all interested parties,” says Shane Coughlan, OpenChain Project Director. “This revision of our website is a stepping stone to help support our outreach activities in 2018. I am looking forward to working with our community in building out this critical part of our project infrastructure.”

The OpenChain Project identifies key recommended processes for effective open source management. The project builds trust in open source by making open source license compliance simpler and more consistent.

The OpenChain Specification defines a core set of requirements every quality compliance program must satisfy. The OpenChain Curriculum provides the educational foundation for open source processes and solutions, whilst meeting a key requirement of the OpenChain Specification. OpenChain Conformance allows organizations to display their adherence to these requirements.

The result is that open source license compliance becomes more predictable, understandable and efficient for participants of the software supply chain.

Organizations of all sizes are invited to review the OpenChain Project, to complete our free Online Self-Certification Questionnaire, and to join our community of trust.

Additional Resources

[1] https://www.openchainproject.org/news

[2] https://www.openchainproject.org/conformance

[3] https://www.openchainproject.org/translations

[4] https://www.openchainproject.org/press

OpenChain Project to Feature at SFLC Fall Conference

NEW YORK, United States, November 3, 2017 — The OpenChain Project will be featured in a talk entitled ‘Update on OpenChain: Now we really begin’ by Shane Coughlan, Open Chain Project Director, and David Marr, Vice President, Legal at Qualcomm, at the Software Freedom Law Center Fall Conference in New York on the 3rd of November.

“The OpenChain Project has grown its membership by over 50% in the last six months,” says Shane Coughlan, OpenChain Project Director. “Our community of conformance has increased from 1 to 15 entities and our key material has been translated into eight languages. We are delighted to share this news and to explain what lies ahead at a key legal event for open source.”

The OpenChain Project identifies key recommended processes for effective open source management. The project builds trust in open source by making open source license compliance simpler and more consistent.

The OpenChain Specification defines a core set of requirements every quality compliance program must satisfy. The OpenChain Curriculum provides the educational foundation for open source processes and solutions, whilst meeting a key requirement of the OpenChain Specification. OpenChain Conformance allows organizations to display their adherence to these requirements.

The result is that open source license compliance becomes more predictable, understandable and efficient for participants of the software supply chain.

Organizations of all sizes are invited to review the OpenChain Project, to complete our free Online Self-Certification Questionnaire, and to join our community of trust.

OpenChain Project to Feature at the Open Source Entrepreneur Network Symposium

SAN FRANCISCO, United States, October 26, 2017 — The OpenChain Project will be featured in a talk entitled ‘Managing Internal or External Open Source Supply Chains’ by Shane Coughlan, Open Chain Project Director, at the Open Source Entrepreneur Network Symposium in Prague on the 26th of October.

“The OpenChain Project helps to make open source compliance in the supply chain easier, faster and more effective,” says Shane Coughlan, OpenChain Project Director. “Our presentation at the Open Source Entrepreneur Network Symposium is an excellent opportunity for companies of all sizes to learn more about how we work.”

The OpenChain Project identifies key recommended processes for effective open source management. The project builds trust in open source by making open source license compliance simpler and more consistent.

The OpenChain Specification defines a core set of requirements every quality compliance program must satisfy. The OpenChain Curriculum provides the educational foundation for open source processes and solutions, whilst meeting a key requirement of the OpenChain Specification. OpenChain Conformance allows organizations to display their adherence to these requirements.

The result is that open source license compliance becomes more predictable, understandable and efficient for participants of the software supply chain.

Organizations of all sizes are invited to review the OpenChain Project, to complete our free Online Self-Certification Questionnaire, and to join our community of trust.

OpenChain Project Welcomes Comcast As A Platinum Member

SAN FRANCISCO, United States, October 24, 2017 — The OpenChain Project is delighted to announce that Comcast has become a Platinum Member and will take a seat on the Governing Board. OpenChain has been growing rapidly in recently months and now has a Governing Board of 14 members that support and inspire a community of almost 200 to address the key requirements for open source compliance in the supply chain.

“The OpenChain Project is centered around a specification that outlines an approach for open source compliance in all types of organization,” says Shane Coughlan, OpenChain Project Director. “Today, as we welcome Comcast to our Governing Board, we benefit from a wealth of knowledge and experience provided by a diverse group of stakeholders. Together our member companies and our broader community will collaborate to build a better, more efficient supply chain and will help to ensure that all parties benefit from effective use of open source technology.”

“OpenChain provides a powerful platform to accelerate open source adoption and engagement through shared best practices in compliance,” Nithya Ruff, Senior Director of Open Source Practice at Comcast Cable, said. “We’re excited to learn from our peers and share our experiences as we engage in this important and valuable project.”

The OpenChain Project identifies key recommended processes for effective open source management. The project builds trust in open source by making open source license compliance simpler and more consistent.

The OpenChain Specification defines a core set of requirements every quality compliance program must satisfy. The OpenChain Curriculum provides the educational foundation for open source processes and solutions, whilst meeting a key requirement of the OpenChain Specification. OpenChain Conformance allows organizations to display their adherence to these requirements.

The result is that open source license compliance becomes more predictable, understandable and efficient for participants of the software supply chain.

Organizations of all sizes are invited to review the OpenChain Project, to complete our free Online Self-Certification Questionnaire, and to join our community of trust.

Additional Resources

• The OpenChain Website
• Comcast Website

About The Linux Foundation

The Linux Foundation is the organization of choice for the world’s top developers and companies to build ecosystems that accelerate open technology development and commercial adoption. Together with the worldwide open source community, it is solving the hardest technology problems by creating the largest shared technology investment in history. Founded in 2000, The Linux Foundation today provides tools, training and events to scale any open source project, which together deliver an economic impact not achievable by any one company. More information can be found at www.linuxfoundation.org.

# # #

The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page: https://www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

OpenChain Project Welcomes Sony As A Platinum Member

SAN FRANCISCO, United States, October 23, 2017 —

The OpenChain Project is proud to announce that Sony has become a Platinum Member and will be taking a seat on the Governing Board.

“The OpenChain Project is a vibrant and growing community of leaders in the open source compliance space,” says Shane Coughlan, OpenChain Project Director. “We are delighted to welcome Sony as a member and welcome their contribution of experience to our Governing Board. We believe that their support will be a vital component in building out a successful, meaningful industry standard for open source compliance in the supply chain.”

“The OpenChain Project offers a compelling way to address the issue of efficient open source compliance,” says Hisashi Tamai, VP, Sony Corporation, representative of Software Strategy Committee. “Sony has long been a leader in open source technology adoption and use. Today, by joining the OpenChain Project as a member, we are taking another step forward in ensuring that the best possible solutions are available to make the best possible products.”

The OpenChain Project identifies key recommended processes for effective open source management. The project builds trust in open source by making open source license compliance simpler and more consistent.

The OpenChain Specification defines a core set of requirements every quality compliance program must satisfy. The OpenChain Curriculum provides the educational foundation for open source processes and solutions, whilst meeting a key requirement of the OpenChain Specification. OpenChain Conformance allows organizations to display their adherence to these requirements.

The result is that open source license compliance becomes more predictable, understandable and efficient for participants of the software supply chain.

Organizations of all sizes are invited to review the OpenChain Project, to complete our free Online Self-Certification Questionnaire, and to join our community of trust.

Additional Resources

• The OpenChain Community
• Sony Website

About The Linux Foundation

The Linux Foundation is the organization of choice for the world’s top developers and companies to build ecosystems that accelerate open technology development and commercial adoption. Together with the worldwide open source community, it is solving the hardest technology problems by creating the largest shared technology investment in history. Founded in 2000, The Linux Foundation today provides tools, training and events to scale any open source project, which together deliver an economic impact not achievable by any one company. More information can be found at www.linuxfoundation.org.

# # #

The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page: https://www.linuxfoundation.org/trademark-usage. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

OpenChain Project to Feature at the Fifth Annual DLA Piper Global Intellectual Property Symposium

SAN FRANCISCO, United States, October 16, 2017 — The OpenChain Project will be featured in talks by Endo San from Toyota at the Fifth Annual DLA Piper Global Intellectual Property Symposium in Nagoya on the 17th of October and Tokyo on the 19th of October.

“The OpenChain Project benefits from knowledgable and proactive members,” says Shane Coughlan, OpenChain Project Director. “These two talks will share Toyota’s experience around open source compliance, intellectual property matters and more. I am delighted that the OpenChain Project is part of this story and that it will be shared with a wider audience.”

The OpenChain Project identifies key recommended processes for effective open source management. The project builds trust in open source by making open source license compliance simpler and more consistent.

The OpenChain Specification defines a core set of requirements every quality compliance program must satisfy. The OpenChain Curriculum provides the educational foundation for open source processes and solutions, whilst meeting a key requirement of the OpenChain Specification. OpenChain Conformance allows organizations to display their adherence to these requirements.

The result is that open source license compliance becomes more predictable, understandable and efficient for participants of the software supply chain.

Organizations of all sizes are invited to review the OpenChain Project, to complete our free Online Self-Certification Questionnaire, and to join our community of trust.

Additional Resources

• Fifth Annual DLA Piper Global Intellectual Property Symposium (Nagoya)
• Fifth Annual DLA Piper Global Intellectual Property Symposium (Tokyo)

OpenChain Project Releases Quick Start Package

SAN FRANCISCO, United States, October 12, 2017 — The OpenChain Project is proud to announce the release of an expanded Quick Start package. It consists of a brief infographic, a one page overview of the project, a detailed two-pager and a slide deck. This package is intended to help project leaders, business decision-makers and legal teams easily understand the purpose and value proposition of the OpenChain Specification, Conformance and Curriculum.

“The OpenChain Project supports efficient open source compliance in the supply chain,” says Shane Coughlan, OpenChain Project Director. “Our new Quick Start package helps to explain this mission and how we accomplish it in a clear, concise manner. As with all material we release from our Curriculum and Onboarding Work Teams, we are making this package available under CC-0 licensing terms. This allows everyone to remix, translate and share without restriction.”

The OpenChain Project identifies key recommended processes for effective open source management. The project builds trust in open source by making open source license compliance simpler and more consistent.

The OpenChain Specification defines a core set of requirements every quality compliance program must satisfy. The OpenChain Curriculum provides the educational foundation for open source processes and solutions, whilst meeting a key requirement of the OpenChain Specification. OpenChain Conformance allows organizations to display their adherence to these requirements.

The result is that open source license compliance becomes more predictable, understandable and efficient for participants of the software supply chain.

Organizations of all sizes are invited to review the OpenChain Project, to complete our free Online Self-Certification Questionnaire, and to join our community of trust.

Additional Resources

• The OpenChain Quick Start Page

你好！The OpenChain Specification is in Chinese

SAN FRANCISCO, United States, October 11, 2017 — The OpenChain Project is delighted to announce that official translations of the OpenChain Specification in Simplified and Traditional Chinese are now available.

“The OpenChain Project is keen to engage the broadest possible audience and adoption,” says Shane Coughlan, OpenChain Project Director. “Today our goal of being an accessible and understandable approach to managing open source compliance in the supply chain is one step closer. The value of translations in Simplified and Traditional Chinese is immense and on behalf of the entire project I want to thank our dedicated volunteers for creating this material.”

The OpenChain Project identifies key recommended processes for effective open source management. The project builds trust in open source by making open source license compliance simpler and more consistent.

The OpenChain Specification defines a core set of requirements every quality compliance program must satisfy. The OpenChain Curriculum provides the educational foundation for open source processes and solutions, whilst meeting a key requirement of the OpenChain Specification. OpenChain Conformance allows organizations to display their adherence to these requirements.

The result is that open source license compliance becomes more predictable, understandable and efficient for participants of the software supply chain.

Organizations of all sizes are invited to review the OpenChain Project, to complete our free Online Self-Certification Questionnaire, and to join our community of trust.

Additional Resources

• The OpenChain Specification in Simplified Chinese
• The OpenChain Specification in Traditional Chinese
• The OpenChain Reference Library