Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 31 MAY 2006

The Truths and Myths of Open Source Software

McDermott Will & Emery
Explore more from McDermott Will & Emery

In the 1960s and 1970s source code was passed between a close knit community of programmers at the pre-eminent computer science institutions in the United States, such as MIT, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon and Berkeley.

United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Melise Blakeslee
Melise Blakeslee
Brian Ferguson
Brian Ferguson
Author LinkedIn connections

In the 1960s and 1970s source code was passed between a close knit community of programmers at the pre-eminent computer science institutions in the United States, such as MIT, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon and Berkeley.1 Programmers expected that any improvements made to code would be published to the entire community. The movement did not gain widespread publicity until 1998 when Netscape, in an effort to ensure Microsoft’s dominance would not erode open internet web protocols, released the source code to its web browser, Netscape Navigator. Following this announcement, the Open Source Initiative was founded to improve the marketing and distribution of the free software community. Vendors, such as Oracle and IBM, began to announce their support of the open source operating system Linux.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

California Requires Disclosure Of AI-Generated People In Advertising

California has enacted a groundbreaking AI disclosure law requiring advertisers to clearly identify when synthetic performers appear in their marketing materials. The legislation, set to take effect in 2027, includes a private right of enforcement that could potentially open the door to class action litigation against brands using AI-generated performers without proper disclosure.
United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Foley Hoag LLP
Foley Hoag LLP
Article

FCC Tightens Equipment Rules

The Federal Communications Commission has adopted sweeping new restrictions targeting equipment containing components from entities on its Covered List, fundamentally reshaping how manufacturers, online marketplaces, and equipment modifiers must approach FCC compliance. These rules establish unprecedented prohibitions on logic-bearing hardware components, impose strict display requirements for e-commerce platforms, and clarify when existing authorizations can support equipment modifications.
United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Steptoe LLP
Steptoe LLP
Article

FCC Revises TCPA Consent Revocation Rules: Exclusive Opt-Out Methods, Category-Specific Revocations, And Other Key Changes

The Federal Communications Commission has unanimously approved sweeping changes to its Telephone Consumer Protection Act consent revocation rules, fundamentally altering how businesses must handle consumer opt-out requests for calls and texts. These new regulations replace the controversial 2024 "revoke all" rule with more flexible options that allow companies to designate exclusive opt-out methods while distinguishing between marketing and informational messages.
United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Article

The Ad Standard: Monthly Update - October 2026

Affordability remains front and center at the FTC. This month, the agency turned its attention to healthcare and gas costs. It also issued detailed guidance on price transparency for auto dealers that marketers in any industry might want to heed: the advertised price “must be the actual price that any consumer can walk in and pay,” with only government fees excluded. The FTC continues to consider how to combat scams and is seeking public comment on whether online platforms should help stop scammers who use those platforms to impersonate third parties by, for example, requiring the removal of confirmed impersonation scam ads.
United StatesMedia, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP