Freedom vs Sustainable Business: A Candid Necessary Debate #FOSSBack
Channel: Plain Schwarz
Date: 12/03/2024

More: https://24.foss-backstage.de/sessions/?id=M9JRSR

Panel Lead: 
Paloma Oliveira

Panellists: 
Lina Böcker
Fiona Krakenbürger
Thomas Steenbergen

Open source software, the bedrock of innovation and collaboration in the modern software industry, faces a critical juncture as the interplay between freedom, sustainable business models and sustainable open source models becomes increasingly complex. The choice of open source license, once considered a technical decision, now carries profound ethical and legal implications, impacting its community, its development, distribution, and usage. This discussion panel will explore the current landscape of open source licenses - from permissive, ethical, dual and business-source, examining the impact of recent developments and changes on individual developers, communities, and its effects on society. Through a debate-style format, panelists will engage in a discussion on the following topics: 1) The ethical implications of different open source license types: the ethical considerations surrounding copyleft, permissive, and hybrid licenses, examining the impact of license choices on the freedom to modify, distribute, and build upon open source software. 2) The impact of license changes on existing software projects and communities: the challenges and opportunities presented by license changes, discussing the ethical implications of altering the terms of existing open source projects and the potential impact on communities of developers and users. 3) The role of open source licenses in addressing issues of intellectual property, copyright, and fair use: explore the legal and ethical complexities surrounding open source licenses, examining how different license types address issues of intellectual property, copyright, and fair use in the context of open source software development and utilization. 4) The ethical considerations of using open source software in commercial products: discuss the ethical implications of incorporating open source software into commercial products, examining the balance between leveraging open source contributions and ensuring fair compensation for developers and contributors. 5) Real cases to have a candid conversation from both sides: Recent news and changes on companies like HashiCorp and Red Hat can be analyzed and the implications can be explored in a non defensive or offensive way, favoring dialogue and deepening the discussion 6) Balancing open source principles with sustainable business models: the challenges faced by companies in balancing the principles of open source with the financial realities of running a business, examining the need for sustainable business models that support the development and maintenance of open-source projects. This panel will provide a platform for open and honest dialogue on the ethical complexities of open source licenses, fostering a deeper understanding of the ethical implications of our technological choices. By engaging in this discussion, we can collectively work towards developing a more ethical and responsible approach to open source software development and use, ensuring that open source remains a force for innovation, collaboration, and societal benefit. *I'll be mediating the debate. I will invite 3 panelists who will be prepared for the debate. The choice of panelists will depend on people who confirm their presence at the event, either because they have tickets or are confirmed speakers. In this way, we can avoid extra costs for production and/or panelists **Debate rules will also be put in place to encourage honest and non-inflammatory discussions, since the proposal is to deepen discussions in a safe space.

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