OSIapproved

OSIapproved is an informal descriptor used to refer to software licenses that have been reviewed and certified by the Open Source Initiative (OSI) as complying with the Open Source Definition (OSD). A license earning OSI-approved status is considered to meet the criteria for open source as recognized in many communities, and is included on the OSI’s official license list.

To obtain approval, a license is submitted to the OSI, where staff and volunteers assess whether it satisfies the OSD’s criteria. The process typically includes public review and a vote by the OSI board. If approved, the license is added to the OSI’s list of Open Source Licenses; if rejected, feedback is provided and a revision may be resubmitted.

Key criteria align with the Open Source Definition and include free redistribution, access to source code, allowance for modifications and redistribution of derivative works, non-discrimination against persons or groups and against fields of endeavor, and compatibility with the license’s terms with other software. The license must be technology neutral and not impose restrictions that would conflict with open-source use or with combinations with other licenses.

Common OSI-approved licenses include the MIT License, the Apache License 2.0, the BSD 3-Clause License, and the GNU General Public License (GPL) family. OSI approval is a widely recognized signal of openness and can influence adoption in various contexts; however, not all open licenses are OSI-approved, and some organizations may rely on different open-standards in their governance.