As Open Source continues to shape global technology, policy, and digital infrastructure, the need for clear stewardship and strong leadership has only grown. On behalf of the Board, I’m thrilled to welcome Duane O’Brien as OSI’s new Executive Director.

Duane O’Brien appointed as the new Executive Director of the Open Source Initiative. Veteran Open Source leader brings decades of experience advancing sustainability, collaboration and responsible participation across the Open Source ecosystem.

Big things ahead for ClearlyDefined: a bold 3-year roadmap to modernize infrastructure, unlock the scan data, integrate SBOMs, and power new project health and security insights across the Open Source ecosystem. #supplychain #opensource

Perforce Software’s 2026 State of Open Source Report (produced in collaboration with OSI and the Eclipse Foundation), reveals that avoiding vendor lock-in has surged into a leading adoption driver, cited by 55% of respondents. https://ter.li/391uqv

The 2026 State of Open Source Report, produced by Perforce Software in collaboration with OSI and the Eclipse Foundation, shows some encouraging OSS maturity signals: ~40% of organizations contribute to #OpenSource https://ter.li/391uqv

Katie Steen-James, Senior US Policy Manager at the OSI, joins the We Love Open Source podcast to share how developers can engage with policy makers: https://allthingsopen.org/articles/developers-engage-policy-makers-not-lobbyists #OpenSource #OpenSourceAI #OpenSourcePolicy

The 2026 State of Open Source Report, released by Perforce (in collaboration with OSI and the Eclipse Fdn.), offers a comprehensive look at how organizations are increasingly relying on OSS to achieve digital sovereignty and accelerate development. https://ter.li/391uqv

Join OSI’s Simon Phipps and Jordan Maris on March 26 at the EU Cyber Acts Conference in Brussels for the panel “Standardisation Around the Cyber Resilience Act.” https://eucyberact.org/session/standardisation-around-the-cyber-resilience-act-n22b/

Today we're holding our first global consultation roundtables for Open Technology Research! Three sessions across time zones — Asia Pacific, Europe & Africa, and the Americas. 🌍 Can't join? Stay tuned for the outcomes next week. Read our FAQ: opentechresearch.org/wp-content/u...

Open Technology Research is hosting consultations to help us develop a shared global research agenda. The sessions will be structured around a short set of questions shared in advance, with facilitated discussion to draw out the most important insights.

Open Education Week invites us to reflect on the idea that knowledge is most powerful when it is freely accessible, adaptable, and shared. It is a principle that open education and Open Source have always held in common. https://opensource.org/blog/open-education-and-the-shared-roots-of-openness

The OSI has standardized license URLs using SPDX identifiers, while carefully preserving compatibility with the many links that already exist across the web and tools. https://opensource.org/blog/osi-adopts-spdx-ids-for-license-urls

The OSI has signed the Open Letter to the Higher Education Community, calling for renewed leadership and intentional investment in open solutions across higher education. https://opensource.org/blog/osi-signs-open-letter-calling-on-higher-education-to-reclaim-its-digital-future

The Open Source Initiative is proud to highlight Google Summer of Code 2026, a global program that continues to strengthen Open Source communities by pairing new contributors with experienced mentors. https://opensource.org/blog/google-summer-of-code-2026-advancing-open-source-through-mentorship

The Open Source Initiative welcomes Open Source Endowment (OSE), the world's first endowment fund dedicated to sustainably funding critical open source software. https://endowment.dev/

The questions being worked through in Europe today may shape open source practice worldwide, underscoring the importance of continued open, participatory governance and international cooperation. https://opensource.org/blog/from-brussels-to-the-world-open-source-as-a-global-asset

The OSI submitted its feedback to the Open Digital Ecosystems strategy. We highlighted the benefits of Open Source for Europe, and how to leverage them in a way that strengthens Open Source communities.

The FOSDEM video recording from the session "The Fediverse and the EU's Digital Services Act: solving the challenges of modern social media?" is now live: https://fosdem.org/2026/schedule/event/W8RCMT-the_fediverse_and_the_eus_digital_services_act_solving_the_challenges_of_modern_/

Former OSI Board Director Stefano Zacchiroli alongside Software Heritage co-founder Roberto Di Cosmo were awarded the Special Recognition for Community Impact at the European Open Source Awards: https://awards.europeanopensource.academy/

From Code & Compliance and the EU Open Source Academy Awards & Policy Summit, to multiple FOSDEM devrooms, the OSI engaged directly with the European community, reinforcing the importance of Open Source. https://opensource.org/blog/open-source-at-the-heart-of-europes-and-the-worlds-digital-future

Jordan Maris, OSI’s EU Policy Analyst, submitted feedback on the European Open Digital Ecosystem Strategy, highlighting Open Source as key to EU digital sovereignty, competitiveness, and growth:

🎉 Happy 28th birthday, Open Source Initiative (OSI)! Thank you for advocating the benefits of #opensource and helping build a world where everyone can enjoy the freedoms and opportunities of open source software. 💚🐧 opensource.org #opensource #OSI #Linux @opensource.org

OSI and AboutCode have formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding that establishes a new collaborative approach to stewarding and sustaining the ClearlyDefined project. https://opensource.org/blog/ensuring-the-long-term-sustainability-of-clearlydefined-osi-and-aboutcode-sign-mou

Deborah Bryant of @opensource.org warns about the creation of new, less open licenses that may restrict the important qualities of openness. She acknowledges private companies as a critical to the open source community, while encouraging to foster a culture of participation among employees.

Deborah Bryant, Astor Nummelin Carlberg and @avilarenata.bsky.social launched the Open Technology Research, a joint initiative of OFE, @opensource.org and @okfn.bsky.social. The initiative will create a sustainable global platform for research, knowledge exchange, and policy engagement.

The Open Source & EU Policy devroom at FOSDEM will take place this Sunday. The devroom is organised by APELL, Eclipse Foundation, Linux Foundation, Mozilla, OFE, OpenSSF, and the Open Source Initiative. https://fosdem.org/2026/schedule/track/open-source-eu-policy/

Pausing the 2026 Board Election cycle to improve how OSI selects Directors and hears the community https://opensource.org/blog/2026-osi-elections-update

Headed to Brussels! 🇪🇺 On Jan 30, OSI Executive Director Deb Bryant and Board Director Ruth Suehle will join the EU Open Source Policy Summit 2026 panel “Europe as the World’s Home for Open Source.” https://summit.openforumeurope.org/

OSI has built a strong public policy function in the US and Europe, with education at its core: meeting with lawmakers, responding to consultations, and creating targeted resources for policymakers. https://opensource.org/blog/open-source-software-public-policy-and-the-stakes-of-getting-it-right

The top 50+ Open Source conferences of 2026 that the Open Source Initiative (OSI) is tracking, including events that intersect with AI, cloud, cybersecurity, and policy. https://opensource.org/blog/top-50-open-source-conferences-in-2026

We've teamed up with APELL, Eclipse Foundation, Linux Foundation Europe, Mozilla, OpenForum Europe, and OpenSSF to bring you the Open Source & EU Policy devroom at #FOSDEM26! https://fosdem.org/2026/schedule/track/open-source-eu-policy/

OSI Board director Ruth Suehle will be in Brussels on January 30th for EU Open Source Policy Summit 2026. She will be part of the panel "Europe as the World’s Home for Open Source." Register now: https://summit.openforumeurope.org/

In this month’s newsletter, we share 2025’s most sought after licenses; reflect on the work still ahead for OSAID; news from the policy team; and look-backs on the year by many of our affiliates. https://opensource.org/blog/carrying-open-collaboration-into-the-year-ahead

Virtual event happening today: Open Source in 2026 by Punch Tape Consulting. OSI Senior US Policy Manager Katie Steen-James will be joining several OSI affiliates to discuss the future of #OpenSource: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7391480824744951808

Joining the Open Policy Alliance enables OSTIF to contribute further to the ecosystem and increase the exposure and education of the general public to open source. https://opensource.org/blog/open-policy-alliance-welcomes-the-open-source-technology-improvement-fund-as-new-member

Deborah Bryant, OSI's interim ED, will be in Brussels on January 30th for the EU Open Source Policy Summit 2026. She will part of the panel "Europe as the World’s Home for Open Source." Register today: https://summit.openforumeurope.org/

The Open Source community has spent two decades building the scaffolding to make patent threats rare and containable. Developers who understand that can focus on what they do best: innovating in the open

The top 20 OSI-Approved licenses most frequently sought out by our community in 2025 based on number of pageviews. https://opensource.org/blog/top-open-source-licenses-in-2025

The video recording of the session "Open Source AI and open washing" by OSI Board member Carlo Piana at Luxembourg's Open Source Conference is now available: https://peertube.opencloud.lu/w/jbPdfztnEcUqDjtn2E1EpQ

From OSI's ED Deb Bryant: As we reach the final weeks of the year, I find myself reflecting on a season that invites both gratitude and giving, two values that feel especially resonant for our community. https://opensource.org/blog/celebrating-generosity-and-growth-in-the-osi-community

Witnessing China’s Deepseek moment firsthand and learning about Kaiyuanshe’s dedication for over a decade building China's Open Source community with such vision and commitment is truly inspiring. https://opensource.org/blog/open-source-without-borders-reflections-from-coscon25

DPGA’s AMM highlighted several priorities that resonate strongly with OSI’s mission, including promoting Open Source software, advancing public-interest AI, and strengthening global collaboration. https://opensource.org/blog/dpgas-annual-members-meeting-advancing-open-source-dpgs-for-the-public-good

Nick Vidal will be representing the OSI at the 10th edition of COSCon to be held in Beijing with the keynote "Open Source Without Borders: The OSI and Kaiyuanshe Journey and the Future Ahead" https://www.bagevent.com/event/8199016

The Open Source community has spent two decades building the scaffolding to make patent threats rare and containable. Developers who understand that can focus on what they do best: innovating in the open

The OSI is looking forward to contributing to the panel "AI as Global Public Digital Good" at the 10th edition of COSCon to be held in Beijing: https://www.bagevent.com/event/8199016

A recap of the OpenForum Academy Symposium 2025 organized by OpenForum Europe (OFE): two days of deep inquiry into how open technologies shape our economies, infrastructures, and societies. https://opensource.org/blog/ofa-symposium-2025-and-the-launch-of-the-open-technology-research-network-otrn

This Giving Tuesday, support the work that keeps Open Source truly open. The OSI safeguards the Open Source Definition and Open Source licenses that power our digital world. Get involved: https://opensource.org/get-involved

This Thanksgiving, we’re grateful for the people who build together solutions for the common good. Open Source thrives because of communities like this. Join the OSI and be part of something bigger. https://opensource.org/get-involved

📣 We are thrilled to join @opensource.org - @openforumeurope.org in the Open Technology Research Network (OTRN). 2026 will be an exciting year bringing back the spirit of our early festivals and finding the answers to embrace the power of open technologies. buff.ly/ACyuuQe

This @opensource.org post from Thierry Carrez unpacks how #opensource underpins #digitalsovereignty, from regulatory enforcement to resilience in a fragmenting world. Worth a read for policymakers, technologists, and anyone thinking about how we build trustworthy, future-proof digital infrastructure