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What is Open Source Software?

Open Source Software (OSS) is software or code that is meant to for users to modify or distribute as they please. OSS is typically owned and maintained by a community of developers. Meaning that it is not typically owned or maintained by a single company. But has contributors from many different companies or backgrounds it is not owned by an one entity.

What is an Open Source License?

OSS is usually licensed. This license often explains how the software can be used, modified and distributed. The use and distribution language can become very important. By including software with specific use and distribution language it is possible a developer is unintentionally making intellectual property publicly accessible by legal terms. OSS licensing can generally be categorized as either CopyLeft or Permissive.

What is a CopyLeft license?

CopyLeft is a way to make software or even text free and available to the public. Including modified and extended copies of that originally CopyLEft type of license. Some licenses allow users to make changes and updates and incorporate software into their programs and make it proprietary. CopyLeft is designed specifically to prevent that. CopyLeft makes it so anyone who redistributes "CopyLeft Licensed" Software, in any form, must continue to maintain the software's "CopyLeft' license and general freedom for all.

Copyleft is essentially the opposite of copyright. In fact the GNU includes a copyright which allows for anyone to modify, use and distribute the software, or any program derived from it. If one were to attempt to change the distribution terms. It would be considered a copyright infringement. This essentially makes any software using a GNU license legally available to the public. Therefore, these license types are generally unacceptable for use at Medtronic or within Medtronic Products.

CopyLeft common examples:

  • GNU General Public License (GPL): Distribution of GPL software is generally prohibited unless the software is an operating system. Distribution of operating system software licensed under the GPL, such as Linux, may be permissible under certain conditions.
  • GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL): Distribution and hosting of AGPL software is generally prohibited.
  • GNU Library or Lesser General Public License (LGPL): Distribution of LGPL software may be acceptable under certain conditions, including the following example conditions:
    • The LGPL software needs to be distributed in a manner that would facilitate replacement of the LGPL software with alternatives (e.g., placed on separate media).

NOTE: Any questions regarding open source software licensing usage and distribution should be directed to CRM security and we can help get you in contact with the appropriate team.

What is a permissive license?

A permissive license has less restrictions on how the licensed software is used and distributed. This is also the most popular open-source software license type. Permissive licenses allow users to do virtually anything they want to the software as long as they attributing the original parts of the code to the original developers. These are generally acceptable for use at Medtronic. Although the legal team should still be consulted with via the OSS review form.

Common Permissive license types:

  • Apache - often requires notifications and copyrights on any distributed code and/or a notice in the software. But the licensing is flexible to new or different licensing terms for modified or derivative products. NOTE: Contains a patent Grant.
  • MIT - Likely the most common license type and yes named after the uni. Allows users to manipulate and distribute the original code however they see fit. The only requirements is that the original copyright is license notice is included in the software or source code.
  • BSD - Abbreviated for Berkeley Source Distribution. Preserves license notices and copyrights while allowing for other work to be distributed without source code and under different terms.

NOTE: Different versions Exist for each license type and the terms of license can vary for each version. Please keep that in mind when reviewing software and licenses.

Helpful docs: