Open Source Explained

Understanding Open Source and Free Software Licensing

If you've held back from developing open source or free software projects because you don't understand the implications of the various licenses, you're not alone. Many developers believe in releasing their software freely, but have hesitated to do so because they're concerned about losing control over their software. Licensing issues are complicated, and both the facts and fallacies you hear word-of-mouth can add to the confusion.Understanding Open Source and Free Software Licensing helps you make sense of the different options available to you. This concise guide focuses on annotated licenses, offering an in-depth explanation of how they compare and interoperate, and how license choices affect project possibilities. Written in clear language that you don't have to be a lawyer to understand, the book answers such questions as: What rights am I giving up? How will my use of OS/FS licensing affect future users or future developers? Does a particular use of this software--such as combining it with proprietary software--leave me vulnerable to lawsuits?Following a quick look at copyright law, contracts, and the definition of "open source," the book tackles the spectrum of licensing, including: The MIT (or X), BSD, Apache and Academic Free licenses The GPL, LGPL, and Mozilla licenses The QT, Artistic, and Creative Commons licenses Classic Proprietary licenses Sun Community Source license and Microsoft Shared Source project The book wraps up with a look at the legal effects--both positive and negative--of open source/free software licensing.Licensing is a major part of what open source and free software are all about, but it's still one of the most complicated areas of law. Even the very simple licenses are tricky. Understanding Open Source and Free Software Licensing bridges the gap between the open source vision and the practical implications of its legal underpinnings. If open source and free software licenses interest you, this book will help you understand them. If you're an open source/free software developer, this book is an absolute necessity.

Best Practices for Commercial Use of Open Source Software

Open RAN Explained

Open RAN EXPLAINED A pioneering outline of the concepts that enhance 5G capabilities to revolutionize the telecommunications industry. Open radio-access network, or Open RAN, is a type of network architecture in which baseband and radio unit components from different suppliers can operate seamlessly in concert. Advances in network communication were, until recently, hampered by the proprietary network operations of each mobile operator; the advent of 5G, however, with its service-based architecture model, has finally opened the door to the expansion of connectivity on the Open RAN model. This transformation promises to define the future of mobile network architecture. Open RAN Explained is among the first books dedicated to this groundbreaking technology. Its comprehensive but accessible summary of current and future developments in Open RAN promises to facilitate network deployment and device design, as well as to provide a handy reference for network professionals in a range of different fields. The result is a must-read volume for anyone looking to understand the future of wireless communication. Open RAN Explained readers will also find: In-depth description of the challenges and opportunities of network modularization Analysis conversant with the latest release specifications of the O-RAN Allliance, GSMA OP/TIP, and other key emerging technologies Authors working at the leading edge of 5G network communications Open RAN Explained is ideal for network operators, network element and device manufacturers, telecommunications researchers, and advanced students, as well as industry-adjacent figures such as regulators, consultants, and marketing professionals.