Open Source And The Law

The Legal aspects of open-source are virgin territory in India, though a scorching topic globally despite stiff opposition from proprietary vendors. In ‘Open Source and the Law,’ the author has attempted to create an awareness of open-source in India. With the adoption of open-source based systems such as Linux, Apache, the movement has acquired the status of a cause celebre. While focussing on the history and philosophy behind open-source, the author urges the Indian policy makers to note the global developments in opensource and introduce legislative changes that will be instrumental in shaping the future of software development. Each of the chapters, be it the historical development and use or legalities of licensing agreements or lessons from the US for India, offer an insightful look into why the open-source movement has become an industry to be reckoned with.