Virtual
Overview (Program Summary)
A program hosted by:
ACC National Capital Region“Open source software” is a broad category that covers software that is licensed by its creators to the public without charge. Over the past two decades, companies have more and more readily incorporated open source software into their products and services. This increased use has not necessarily translated to increased understanding, though. For example, while open source software may not cost any money to use, the specific licensing terms of that software may pass on onerous obligations that surprise most companies using open source in their products and services.
To various degrees, U.S. Government agencies are also embracing the use of open source software, whether by procuring products incorporating open source software from government contractors or by supporting improved access to code developed for the U.S. Government. More and more agencies, for example, are creating their own open source software policies and even building portals and platforms to enable sharing of software produced for or by the U.S. Government as open source.
This panel will provide a background on the legal issues surrounding open source software licensing and will explore the U.S. Government’s policy developments and what they mean for federal government contractors that regularly rely on open source or closed source software.
Presented by Vince Galluzzo and Jon Baker, Partners at Crowell & Moring LLP and Keith Coleman, Senior Manager at Accenture Federal Services LLC.
1.5 Hours of VA MCLE pending.