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

This Thanksgiving, we’re grateful for a community that builds, shares, and empowers. Open Source is a gift to humankind: created by many, benefiting all. Join OSI and help us protect that gift. https://opensource.org/get-involved

As the Digital Public Goods Alliance's Annual Members Meeting wraps up in Brasilia, we’re thrilled OSI could once again be part of this effort to drive #OpenSource and scale DPGs around the world. https://amm25.digitalpublicgoods.net/

Brasilia was built with a bold promise: 50 years of progress in 5. The DPGA's 50-in-5 initiative echoes that same spirit by helping 50 countries to build their digital public infrastructure in 5 years: https://50in5.net/

The Digital Public Goods Alliance's Annual Members Meeting is getting started in Brasilia. The OSI is being represented by Senior US Policy Manager Katie Steen-James and Community Manager Nick Vidal. https://amm25.digitalpublicgoods.net/program

Countries around the world are waking up to their dependency on foreign services and products. Geopolitical shifts drive digital sovereignty to the top of the political agenda in EU and other regions. https://opensource.org/blog/open-source-a-global-commons-to-enable-digital-sovereignty

Join the OSI as a member or sponsor to help our neutral stewardship of open source licensing and our role in enabling a global community. https://opensource.org/get-involved

As the EU pursues the goal of digital sovereignty, we urge you to harness open source — that is, technology that is free to use, inspect, adapt, and share — as a key enabler of this strategy.  https://opensource.org/blog/open-letter-harnessing-open-source-ai-to-advance-digital-sovereignty

Help us improve the EU Cyber Resilience Act Standards. We are looking to reduce the burden of the CRA on Open Source communities and we need your comments on many of the vertical standards: https://opensource.org/blog/help-us-improve-the-eu-cyber-resilience-act-standards

Open source is suffering from its own success. The ecosystem that once thrived on volunteer energy now faces existential questions: How do we sustain the infrastructure that powers the modern world?

The OpenForum Academy Symposium 2025 will take place next week at the FGV Law School in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. OSI is joining forces with Open Knowledge Foundation and the DPGA as content partners. https://symposium.openforumeurope.org/

In a few hours, OSI Interim Executive Director Deborah Bryant will participate in Apereo's MicroConference “Managing Community through CiviCRM, an Open Source CRM”. You can still register here:

The video recordings from Code & Compliance Community Days are now available. Watch the panel "Opportunities to Participate in Standardization" with OSI EU Policy Analyst Jordan Maris. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2DFmJWmDBw&list=PLy7t4z5SYNaSwD6AGfFCeCc39ISaNccYc&index=10