[Linux-aus] Who defines Open Source?

[Paul Shirren]

Avi Miller wrote:
> Essentially, I'm trying to determine who (or what) determines whether or 
> not a licence is Open Source or not.
> 

The Open Source Initiative http://www.opensource.org/ holds the 
trademark on open source, and they define what open source is at 
http://www.opensource.org/docs/definition.php

The Free Software Foundation http://www.gnu.org/ defines what Free 
Software is at http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html. The FSF 
definition is more restrictive, so while Free Software qualifies as Open 
Source, Open Source is necessarily Free Software.