378RA Emerging Licensing Differences: Risk to Open Source Users and Vendors?
Authors: Bruce Guptill, Mike West
Saugatuck’s latest research indicates massive and rapid adoption of open source in two areas: 1) within user enterprises of all sizes, and 2) within software and services vendor’s offerings. Our research further indicates that greatest presence of open source software will be as components of other offerings applications, systems and services. This “hidden” nature of open source was examined briefly in Saugatuck Strategic Perspective STR-370, “Open Source Vendor Perspectives: It’s Real, It’s Hidden, and It’s Bigger Than You Think,” (27July 07). Current vendor and open source community disputes over licensing terms and conditions could bring that hidden software – and significant legal issues – to the surface.