News

OpenChain Announces New Curriculum Chair

Alexios, Curriculum Chair

SAN FRANCISCO, United States, June 28, 2017 — Today the OpenChain Project is delighted to formally welcome Alexios Zavras as the new Curriculum Work Team Chair. He will work alongside Mark Gisi (Specification Chair) and Miriam Ballhausen (Conformance Chair) to refine and expand our support of open source compliance in the supply chain.

“The OpenChain Project is built from and depends on contributions from an excellent volunteer community,” says Shane Coughlan, OpenChain Program Manager. “Each of our work teams is maintained by a community-selected contributor from among our diverse stakeholders. I felt it was important to continue this approach after my appointment as Program Manager in late March. It is with great pleasure that I welcome Alexios, a key contributor to the curriculum, to become my successor as chair.”

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.

More information is available from the OpenChain Project website at www.openchainproject.org. Companies of all sizes are invited to review the OpenChain Project, to use the free Online Self-Certification, and to support building a web of trust for open source compliance across the global supply chain.

Additional Resources

• The OpenChain Project community
• The OpenChain Project curriculum

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.

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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 Receives Checklist Contribution

SAN FRANCISCO, United States, June 22, 2017 — On the 14th of June the OpenChain Project received a contribution of educational flowcharts from Armijn Hemel and Shane Coughlan’s publication ‘Practical GPL Compliance.’ Today the OpenChain Project announced that it has received a contribution of additional educational checklists and supplementary commentary from the same book. All of this material is being made available under a CC-0 license.

“The educational material made available over the last two weeks can be applied to process management, best practices and training around open source compliance,” says Shane Coughlan. “It is a natural fit with the OpenChain Project’s onboarding and curriculum activities and will be considered for inclusion in future releases. Meanwhile, due to the nature of the CC-0 license it is released under, anyone can use, study, share and improve this material for any purpose. By undertaking these releases we hope to inspire further engagement and collaboration from diverse stakeholders in the eco-system.”

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.

More information is available from the OpenChain Project website at www.openchainproject.org. Companies of all sizes are invited to review the OpenChain Project, to use the free Online Self-Certification, and to support building a web of trust for open source compliance across the global supply chain.

Additional Resources

• ‘Practical GPL Compliance’ – The Flowcharts
• ‘Practical GPL Compliance’ – The Checklists

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.

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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 at LinuxCon China – The Talk and Slides

BEIJING, China (LinuxCon China) June 22, 2017 — Shane Coughlan, OpenChain Program Manager, introduced the OpenChain Project from a business perspective and launched the OpenChain Conformance logo at LinuxCon China 2017 on the 20th of June.

“I am delighted to announce that we are making my slides, a video of the “big picture” section of my talk and the complete audio available today,” says Shane Coughlan. “This is part of our ongoing commitment to communicate the purpose of OpenChain Project, to make it easy to share OpenChain with interest parties, and to encourage greater engagement.”

The Slides

The “Big Picture” Video

The Full Speech Audio

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.

More information is available from the OpenChain Project website at www.openchainproject.org. Companies of all sizes are invited to review the OpenChain Project, to use the free Online Self-Certification, and to support building a web of trust for open source compliance across the global supply chain.

Additional Resources

• The OpenChain Specification: https://www.openchainproject.org/spec
• Online Self-Certification: https://www.openchainproject.org/conformance
• FAQ: https://www.openchainproject.org/faq

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.

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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 Launches Conformance Logo

BEIJING, China (LinuxCon China) June 20, 2017 — Today the OpenChain Project launched the OpenChain Conformance logo. This logo can be used on websites or marketing material by organizations of any size that self-certify to the OpenChain Specification. OpenChain Conformance, and displaying the OpenChain Conformance logo, is one of the simplest, quickest ways to demonstrate a serious, measured approach to open source license compliance.

“OpenChain Conformance builds trust between organizations in the supply chain,” says Shane Coughlan, OpenChain Program Manager. “This makes procurement easier for purchasers and preferred status easier for suppliers. The release of the OpenChain Conformance logo increases the visibility for organizations engaging with our industry standard. It is another step forward towards ensuring that increased trust regarding open source compliance can be built between organizations in the global supply chain.”

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.

More information is available from the OpenChain Project website at www.openchainproject.org. Companies of all sizes are invited to review the OpenChain Project, to use the free Online Self-Certification, and to support building a web of trust for open source compliance across the global supply chain.

Additional Resources

• Learn more about OpenChain Conformance: https://www.openchainproject.org/conformance
• The OpenChain Specification: https://www.openchainproject.org/spec
• Translations: https://www.openchainproject.org/translations
• Online Self-Certification: https://www.openchainproject.org/conformance
• FAQ: https://www.openchainproject.org/faq

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.

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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 at LinuxCon China

SAN FRANCISCO, June 20, 2017 — Shane Coughlan, OpenChain Program Manager, will deliver a talk entitled ‘Managing the Open Source Supply Chain‘ at LinuxCon China at 14:15 on the 20th of June. It will take place in Room 306B and everyone attending the event is invited to attend. It will provide an opportunity to learn more about OpenChain, about complementary projects such as SPDX and FOSSology, and about how the global open source community has built out the processes and tools needed for sustainable governance.

“When open source began there were questions about how the licenses worked and whether this collaborative method could scale,” says Shane Coughlan. “In two decades we have come so far. Open source is now the foundation of the global IT industry and we have matured beyond code. We have collaborated to build great technology, great projects and great approaches to managing our activities. My talk at LinuxCon China will focus on the latter item, a key tipping point for maturity, and an area where projects like OpenChain showcase our progress as a community.”

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.

More information is available from the OpenChain Project website at www.openchainproject.org. Companies of all sizes are invited to review the OpenChain Project, to use the free Online Self-Certification, and to support building a web of trust for open source compliance across the global supply chain.

Additional Resources

• Learn more about Shane’s talk on the LinuxCon China website: http://sched.co/AVBB
• The OpenChain Specification: https://www.openchainproject.org/spec
• Translations: https://www.openchainproject.org/translations
• Online Self-Certification: https://www.openchainproject.org/conformance
• FAQ: https://www.openchainproject.org/faq

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 at the Asian Legal Network

SAN FRANCISCO, June 16, 2017 — The OpenChain Project will take center stage today at an event hosted by Open Invention Network and DLA Piper in Tokyo to discuss ‘Building on OSS: IP and Compliance Strategies for Success.’ Shane Coughlan, OpenChain Program Manager, will act as MC for the event, deliver a talk entitled ‘Introduction to OpenChain and the Role of Compliance in a Strong Governance Program for Automakers, Suppliers and Beyond’ and lead the roundtable.

“The OpenChain Project is part of a broad global community engaging with all aspects of intellectual property around open source,” says Shane Coughlan, OpenChain Program Manager. “The Asian Legal Network has been meeting on a quarterly basis in China, Japan, Korea and India for over two years. I am delighted to once again host a forward-facing discussion on key subjects impacting operating companies.”

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.

More information is available from the OpenChain Project website at www.openchainproject.org. Companies of all sizes are invited to review the OpenChain Project, to use the free Online Self-Certification, and to support building a web of trust for open source compliance across the global supply chain.

Additional Resources

• The OpenChain Specification: https://www.openchainproject.org/spec
• Translations: https://www.openchainproject.org/translations
• Online Self-Certification: https://www.openchainproject.org/conformance
• FAQ: https://www.openchainproject.org/faq

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.

Olá! The OpenChain Specification 1.1 is in Portuguese

SAN FRANCISCO, June 13, 2017 — The OpenChain Project today announced the release of the OpenChain Specification 1.1 in Portuguese. This was made possible due to the volunteer contributions of Bill Weinberg and Gianna Cardinale at Open Source Sense and Gianfranco Cardinale at Alquimia Moderna. It can be found on the translations page of the OpenChain website:
https://www.openchainproject.org/translations

“The OpenChain Project is an international, inclusive project designed to foster global adoption,” says Shane Coughlan, OpenChain Program Manager. “The availability of translated material is key to our strategy to help foster adoption and growth of the industry standard for open source compliance in the supply chain. The release of our first Portuguese translation underlines both this commitment and the energy of our community.”

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.

More information is available from the OpenChain Project website at www.openchainproject.org. Companies of all sizes are invited to review the OpenChain Project, to use the free Online Self-Certification, and to support building a web of trust for open source compliance across the global supply chain.

Additional Resources

• The OpenChain Specification: https://www.openchainproject.org/spec
• Translations: https://www.openchainproject.org/translations
• Online Self-Certification: https://www.openchainproject.org/conformance
• FAQ: https://www.openchainproject.org/faq

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 NextCloud

SAN FRANCISCO, June 6, 2017 — The OpenChain Project today announced that Nextcloud GmbH has become the latest OpenChain Conformant organization. The OpenChain Project, hosted by The Linux Foundation®, is the industry standard for managing open source software license compliance across the supply chain.

“OpenChain Conformance is designed for companies of all sizes that deal with open source software,” says Shane Coughlan, OpenChain Program Manager. “NextCloud is a high profile, high growth startup that adheres to the same overarching compliance processes as multinationals. It is a clear example of why OpenChain Conformance is the correct approach to establishing an industry standard for open source compliance in the supply chain.”

“Nextcloud is 100% open source, avoiding the legal risks of mixing proprietary and incompatible open source licenses and providing the full benefit of open, transparent development”,  said Frank Karlitschek, managing director at Nextcloud GmbH. “Compliance with open source licenses is an important matter for us and we’re glad to participate in the OpenChain program, using their approach to help verify compliance, giving customers increased peace of mind with regards to license compliance.”

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.

More information is available from the OpenChain Project website at www.openchainproject.org. Companies of all sizes are invited to review the OpenChain Project, to use the free Online Self-Certification, and to support building a web of trust for open source compliance across the global supply chain.

Additional Resources

• Specification: https://www.openchainproject.org/spec
• Online Self-Certification: https://www.openchainproject.org/conformance
• Curriculum: https://www.openchainproject.org/curriculum
• FAQ: https://www.openchainproject.org/faq
• NextCloud’s homepage: https://nextcloud.com/

About Nextcloud

Nextcloud offers an industry-leading fully open source solution for on-premise data handling and communication with an uncompromising focus on security and privacy and unprecedented scalability. Nextcloud brings together universal access to data with next-generation secure communication and collaboration capabilities under direct control of IT and integrated with existing compliant infrastructure. Nextcloud’s open, modular architecture, emphasis on security and advanced federation capabilities enable modern enterprises to leverage their existing assets within and across the borders of their organization. For more information, visit https://nextcloud.com or follow @Nextclouders on Twitter.

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.

Media Contact

Dan Brown

The Linux Foundation

pr@linuxfoundation.org

OpenChain Project Releases Translations and Onboarding Packages

TOKYO (Open Source Summit Japan), May 31, 2017 — The OpenChain Project today announced the OpenChain™ Specification is officially available in Japanese and translations are underway in seven other languages. OpenChain has also launched an Onboarding Package to make it easier for decision-makers to engage with the project. The OpenChain Project, hosted by The Linux Foundation®, is the industry standard for managing open source software license compliance across the supply chain.

“This marks another milestone in establishing the OpenChain Specification as the standard for trust around open source compliance in the supply chain,” says Shane Coughlan, OpenChain Program Manager. “We want to ensure the OpenChain Project becomes more internationalized and easier to understand with each passing month. In the near term you can expect expanded Japanese support for our curriculum and Onboarding Package along with Chinese and Spanish support for the specification. We have a simply terrific team of volunteers stepping forward to help share the OpenChain Project with the world.”

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.

The OpenChain Specification translations and Onboarding Package are available from the project website at www.openchainproject.org. Companies of all sizes are invited to review the OpenChain Project, to use the free Online Self-Certification, and to support building a web of trust for open source compliance across the global supply chain.

Additional Resources

• Specification: https://www.openchainproject.org/spec
• Online Self-Certification: https://www.openchainproject.org/conformance
• Curriculum: https://www.openchainproject.org/curriculum
• FAQ: https://www.openchainproject.org/faq

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.

Media Contact

Dan Brown

The Linux Foundation

pr@linuxfoundation.org

Exploring Topical Issues at Open Source Summit Japan

SAN FRANCISCO, May 31, 2017 — Shane Coughlan, the OpenChain Program Manager, today discussed ‘The Rise of Copyright Trolls‘ at the Open Source Summit Japan.

“Standards and norms of behavior are critical to the smooth functioning of the international open source community,” says Shane Coughlan, OpenChain Program Manager. “Issues like open source compliance are carefully addressed in a measured, realistic manner by projects such as OpenChain. The vast majority of our energy can and should be focused on such positive activities. At the same time, it is worth exploring challenges posed by actors who may not adhere to the expectations of the community, and to discuss how their actions may be reasonably addressed.”

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.

More information is available from the OpenChain Project website at www.openchainproject.org. Companies of all sizes are invited to review the OpenChain Project, to use the free Online Self-Certification, and to support building a web of trust for open source compliance across the global supply chain.

Additional Resources

• The OpenChain Specification: https://www.openchainproject.org/spec
• Translations: https://www.openchainproject.org/translations
• Online Self-Certification: https://www.openchainproject.org/conformance
• FAQ: https://www.openchainproject.org/faq

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.