The following is provided for information purposes, and not meant to be legal advice.
In order to be considered open source, a program’s source code must be provided to the licensee and allow for certain distribution requirements.
These distribution requirements include:
1. Free distribution. Free distribution means the license may not restrict anyone from selling or giving away the software.
Since the goal of open source is to allow for rapid development of a program, redistribution is needed in order for the community to improve it, adapt to it, and fix it, in the event the original author does not maintain the program.
2. Source code. The program must include source code.
This can be accomplished by bundling the source code with executables, publicizing where to obtain the source code such as downloading it from the Internet, or providing the source code in a physical medium such as a CD upon request.
3. Derived works. The license must allow modifications.
4. Integrity of Author's Source Code. In order to protect the author’s reputation, the license may require derived works to carry a different name or version number from the original software.
5. No Discrimination Against Persons or Groups. The license must not discriminate against any person or groups.
6. No Discrimination Against Fields of Endeavor. The license must not restrict anyone from making use of the program in a specific field.
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