Fontana2017

Last modified by fontana on 2017/02/18 03:40

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I am running for re-election to another term on the OSI Board of Directors. 

About me

I am a lawyer who has specialized in open source licensing and other open source-related legal issues for over 11 years. But I have been a user and advocate of open source for much longer than that, having discovered Linux about a year before the OSI was founded—a discovery that profoundly transformed my life, personally as well as professionally.

I have been a legal counselor to open source projects, open source and free software nonprofits, and companies involved in using, developing and distributing open source software. For most of the past decade I have worked at Red Hat as its lead open source legal counsel. Most of my work at Red Hat involves supporting software developers. Before working at Red Hat I was counsel at the Software Freedom Law Center, where my main client was the FSF and where I primarily worked on the drafting of the GPLv3 license family. In between past and current stints at Red Hat I was Senior Director and Associate General Counsel at HP, responsible for open source strategy and compliance. As a legal specialist in open source, I have sought to make a positive impact on open source legal policy. The general theme of my "policy work" is empowering developers and strengthening the legal foundations of collaborative development.

I have served on the OSI board since August 2013. Over the past couple of years I have acted as License Committee chair, which fits well with my special interests and expertise. Earlier I served as the Affiliates Committee chair.

Goals for OSI

Looking ahead, there are a few specific objectives I would like to see the OSI focus on.

  • Continued stewardship of the Open Source Definition: The core role of the OSI continues to be that of authoritative maintainer, guardian and interpreter of the OSD, primarily through its consideration of licenses submitted for approval. This is our main means of combating “open-washing”, the threat of dilution of the meaning of open source, which remains as big a problem as ever. But we can’t approach this task too conservatively; we must make sure that the OSD stays up to date and relevant. It is of the highest importance that we approach this work free of narrow ideological bias (for example, favoring either copyleft or noncopyleft licensing).
  • Promote norms of open source development: Open source has come to signify a set of best legal and social practices around software development that is not limited to details of outbound licensing. The OSI should be more active in defining and promoting such practices. The formation of the “Beyond Licensing” working group is a good step.  
  • Education and advocacy: While open source has become ubiquitous, the same can't be said of understanding of the legal foundations of open source. This is a problem which the OSI is well situated to address. During my time with OSI I have given presentations to user groups and university students on the basics of open source licensing; OSI should do more of this. The OSI should also use its influence to advocate for adoption of open source and community development methodologies in government and industry.
  • Closer ties to other software freedom organizations: During my time with OSI I have been especially pleased to see several points of contact and collaboration with peer organizations like Software Freedom Conservancy and FSF, helping to heal the historic rift that developed after formation of the OSI. This effort should continue. 
  • Relationships with other social movements: Recently I have wondered whether the open source movement is too inward-looking. I would like to see the OSI explore ways in which open source can facilitate the work of social justice, humanitarian and public interest activities that do not specifically concern software. I am personally interested in the capabilities of open source to aid the disability rights movement.

Feel free to ask me any questions here or on Twitter (@richardfontana). Thank you!

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