Understanding Open Source Software: Risks and Rewards

Presented by Michael R. Overly

(5,127 Ratings)

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Course Description

Length: 1h 1min Published: 7/31/2023

Open source software is a critical component of nearly all businesses that rely on technology. The legal issues surrounding open source software are quickly evolving. This program will serve as an overview to the key issues in the use of open source software. The speaker will cover the types of licenses involved in open source software, the various risks and challenges in using open source software, documentation issues, vendor engagements, nomenclature, derivative use issues, and more.

Learning Objectives

* Understand the what open source software is and how clients use it in their businesses

* Learn how to spot common legal issues with open source software

* Know how to evaluate the benefits and legal risks of open source software use

Read the course transcript.

Speaker Q&A

Question

Excellent presentation. How do you think or has open source software licensing enforceability been impacted by the rise of AI, much of which is built on open source but has a very black box model?

- MichaelD

Answer

Great question and the subject of one of the few major lawsuits involving AI/Open Source. It really depends on the use case. If a developer is using open source to train AI or to incorporate open source directly into the AI engine, then it is very clear compliance with the relevant licenses must be achieved. If, in contrast, the open source is being used to merely generate output from, say, generative AI, then it seems much cleaner (provided the output contains no element of the open source, itself).

- Michael R. Overly