Open Source
Definition: Open source software is released under licenses that allow anyone to view, modify, and
distribute the source code.
Open Source Software (OSS) is quite popular in the field of Information Technology and more so
Digital Media. An Open Source Software is any computer software for which its source code
(programming code written in a programming language) is made available to the public and is
license in which the copyright holder is provided the right to study, change and even distributes the
software to anyone and maybe used for any purpose. Importantly to note, that an OSS is most time
developed with the public in mind for its use and is
created in many instances in a collaborative manner amongst developers.
Example: Linux is a well-known open-source operating system. Anyone can download its source
code, modify it to suit their needs, and share it with others. This has led to a vast community of
developers contributing to its improvement, resulting in various distributions like Ubuntu and
Fedora.
2. Open Educational Resources (OER)
Definition: OER are teaching, learning, and research materials that are freely available for anyone
to use, adapt, and share. Open Educational Resources (OER) any software, media, document or
instructions that are freely accessible as licensed works that are useful in teaching, learning as well
as assessing along with
research purposes.
Example: MIT OpenCourseWare offers free access to a wide range of course materials from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Students and educators can use these materials to
enhance learning without the financial barriers typically associated with higher education.
3. Open Data
Definition: Open data refers to data that is made available to the public in a format that is easily
accessible and usable.
Example: The U.S. Government’s [Link] platform provides access to a plethora of datasets
ranging from health and agriculture to energy and climate. Citizens, researchers, and developers
can use this data to create apps, conduct research, or improve transparency in governance.
4. Creative Commons Licensing
Definition: Creative Commons licenses allow creators to define how others can use their work,
ranging from full sharing to specific restrictions.
Creative Commons (CC) License is a public copyright license that allows for free distribution of
copyrighted works. Authors, Publishers, Content Creators, etc. use this license to give people the
right to share, use and continue to improve their work. This is primarily for non-commercial use. CC
License protects persons who use or choose to distribute content, without the need to worry about
copyright infringement, once choosing to follow the conditions that are stipulated in a license
provided by the author of the original work.
Example: An artist may release their work under a Creative Commons Attribution-
NonCommercial (CC BY-NC) license, which allows others to share and adapt the work as long as
they credit the original creator and do not use it for commercial purposes. This empowers creators
to maintain some control over their work while still encouraging sharing.
5. Open Source versus Public Domain
Definition: While both concepts promote free access, open source software comes with specific
licensing terms, whereas public domain works have no copyright restrictions at all.
Example: The software Mozilla Firefox is open source, meaning it can be modified and
redistributed under its licensing terms. In contrast, Shakespeare's plays are in the public domain,
allowing anyone to use, adapt, or perform them without seeking permission or adhering to specific
licensing conditions.
