Value proposition

Global non-profit: promotes and protects open source software, development & communities through education and advocacy.

Open source is a development method for software that harnesses the power of distributed peer review and transparency of process. The promise of open source is better quality, higher reliability, more flexibility, lower cost, and an end to predatory vendor lock-in. It depends on the liberties delivered by open source licenses.

The Open Source Initiative (OSI) is the authority that defines Open Source, recognized globally by individuals, companies, and by public institutions.

One of our most important activities is as a standards body, maintaining the Open Source Definition for the good of the community. The Open Source Initiative Approved License trademark and program creates a nexus of trust around which developers, users, corporations and governments can organize open-source cooperation.

Free and Open Source Software and Licensing