Bonum Certa Men Certa

What People Must Understand About the Open Source Initiative (OSI)

posted by Roy Schestowitz on Apr 26, 2025,
updated Apr 26, 2025

Need to protect the definition or Microsoft

We'll soon resume our series. Let's recite some facts about the Open Source Initiative (OSI):

  1. Both of its founders are no longer involved
  2. One co-founder repeatedly said (in public) that the OSI had lost its way
  3. OSI existed (after some years) to "replace" the original message of Free software
  4. OSI did not pioneer or coin the term "Open Source"
  5. OSI is fronting for its sponsors, e.g. Microsoft and GitHub, i.e. proprietary software
  6. OSI is paid by Microsoft and GitHub to whitewashing licence violations in Open Source (using terms like "Deep Dive" and "AI")
  7. OSI does not operate in compliance with its own rules and bylaws; even elections are a farce
  8. OSI is likely not the real guardian of the Open Source Definition (OSD), as the person behind the OSD helped confirm as recently as months ago
  9. OSI defamed me, tried to deplatform me, and censored me (those who did this are at the highest level at the OSI and occasionally did so in public)
  10. People close to the OSI confirm that there are witch-hunts against any form of dissent, including dissent from OSI co-founders
  11. The OSI can lose its status or its licence to operate (per se)
  12. The OSI is being investigated for privacy violations
  13. The OSI colluded with Microsoft-sponsored front groups to publicly defame people such as Richard Stallman and Eben Moglen
  14. OSI leadership is abusing Wikipedia
  15. Only about 2.5% of the OSI's budget comes from members; the OSI is basically an instrument of large corporations; it speaks for and lobbies for them
  16. If the OSI goes under, there will not be any immediate vacuum; the OSD hasn't been enforced for ages by the OSI; au contraire - some people in the OSI sought to profit from openwashing, i.e. helping actors (like clients of theirs) run afoul of the OSD

There's lots more. Stay tuned.

Other Recent Techrights' Posts

Our Priority is Still Tackling Software Patents and Corruption in Patent Offices
Meanwhile we got compliments on our recent articles, which means that they are effective
Slopwatch: Another Day, Another Slopfest, LLM Slop Scrapers Slow Down Our Site
We too have some slop issues; this past day this site and the sister site had to answer about 2.5 million requests (not counting Gemini Protocol) and it's slowing things down for everybody
Abuse Inside the Polish Patent Office (UPRP) - Part IX: Minimum Wages For You (Experienced Scientist), Alicante/EU Paydays For Me (Unproductive, Corrupt Official)
Does UPRP maladministration extend to the false belief that qualified and experienced scientists can play the role of circus clowns?
 
"The Liberating Power of Simply Telling People the Truth."
'polite' bullying
Why the Militants Have Lost Every Battle Since 2022 (When Attacking My Wife and I in Various Ways, Even Attacking Our Employers)
This takes patience, sure, but at the end most evildoers face the consequences for their actions
Politics Will Impact Software Choices
Will those systems respect users' freedom?
EPO: Neglecting Children to Promote American Monopolies by Shielding Them From European Competition
Yesterday the Central Staff Committee at the EPO spoke about another "reform" at the Office
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Wednesday, June 11, 2025
IRC logs for Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Links 11/06/2025: More Vulnerabilities Found in 'Smart' Phones, China Extends Reach in the Pacific
Links for the day
Gemini Links 11/06/2025: Grain and Steam Next Fest
Links for the day
Links 11/06/2025: "Quantum" Hype From IBM, US Closer to Martial Law, and “The Nation” Celebrates Milestone
Links for the day
IBM's CEO Roasted, Sizzled and Grilled for Dumb and Inconsistent Vapourware Promises
It looks like being a chronic liar is what it takes to lead the company once synonymous with computing
IBM's Goal Is Not (and Never Was) Computer Users' Freedom
More than 1.5 decades ago I found IBM to be an "ally of convenience" because of OpenDocument Format (ODF)
Wayland Shows the IBM/Red Hat Way of Doing Things
IBM is trying to 'kill' X
Who Imitates Who? Plagiarist as Client (From Microsoft), 'Plagiarism' at the Law Firm?
let's revisit the subject
GitHub is Proprietary, Controlled by Microsoft, and GPL Violation Warehouse
"IRS tax filing software [will be] released to the people as free software" ... In general this is good news
Slopfarm Catastrophe
Seems like BetaNews (or BetaNoise) has just suffered a major data loss and restored the site from a week-old backup
Abuse Inside the Polish Patent Office (UPRP) - Part VIII: Illegal Working Conditions
How many people need to die for these people to get their massive salaries?
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Tuesday, June 10, 2025
IRC logs for Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Links 10/06/2025: Apple Hype and Physical Attacks on Bloggers
Links for the day
Gemini Links 10/06/2025: Loon Lake, Farming, and Forth
Links for the day
Links 10/06/2025: Jaws at 50 and US Democracy Crushed Very Rapidly (Martial Law Seems Imminent)
Links for the day
Abuse Inside the Polish Patent Office (UPRP) - Part VII: Washing Their Hands After Corruption and Abuse
"Tragedy or comedy?"
Culling Bad RSS Feeds of Bad Sites
Not throwing out the baby with the bathwater
If 'Microsoft v Techrights' is Dealt With by a 'Microsoft Court' (or a Court Outsourced to Microsoft)
More on that later
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Monday, June 09, 2025
IRC logs for Monday, June 09, 2025
Gemini Protocol Turns Six in 10 Days From Now
If you haven't tried it yet, then give it a go today
Live as You Preach
technology is fast becoming dysphoric