Open-Source Software: Licensing and Governance

Abstract

Java developers are all using Open-Source software at a certain level. Sometimes, this software is downloaded and used directly, sometimes it is embedded in commercial software. It happens also that software looks like Open-Source but it's not.

This session will start with a brief overview of the different Open-Source licensing models and their associated constraints.

As the legal aspects are not the sole attention points for Open-Source software. It will also include some concrete advices for Java developers to avoid the most common pitfalls related to the use of Open-Source software in their projects.

Speaker: Robin Mulkers

Robin has joined the IT community in 1992 when he suddenly realized that software development was more interesting than windsurfing. He had then the opportunity to apply distributed computing techniques in energy, finance and telecommunication industries.

IT Architect since 1999, founder of the Belgian Websphere User Group, he practices Java professionally from the early days of J2EE. Involved in large J2EE projects as technical expert in middleware, application integration and portals, he is now Head Application Architect for CM a leading Belgian healthcare company.