Open Source software
Many researchers at the University of Oxford have expressed an interest in, or are currently using, the Open Source Software (OSS) model to engage a wider community in the development and use of their work. To address researchers' wishes to better engage with the Open Source community, the University has developed a procedure to facilitate associated requests for assistance with choosing a suitable OSS licence and obtaining clearance to publish.
The University recognises the endeavours of the Open Source Initiative (OSI) to establish standards in this area. Should you wish to learn more about the OSI it is recommended that you look at the information on their website. There is also a great deal of useful information about OSS in general available from the website of the Open Source Software Advisory Service (OSS Watch).
This procedure is available for software developed at Oxford where ownership is claimed by the University, in accordance with its statutes. To request that software you have developed that meets these criteria should be made available under an Open Source Licence please provide details of the software by completing the Software Release Form (SRF) provided below. Where more than one person has contributed to the development of the software please ensure that all contributors are consulted in completing the form.
To initiate a request, email the completed Software Release Form to os-request@admin.ox.ac.uk ensuring that all contributors are copied in to the email via a current email address. Please complete the form carefully and take care to ensure that all contributors are properly copied in, as this will enable us to respond promptly to your request.
Once received, the details in the Software Release Form will be considered by representatives of Research Services and Isis Innovation Limited, the University's wholly owned technology transfer company. Research Services will endeavour to ensure that an Open Source release does not infringe the rights of any third parties, and Isis will consult with you to establish if there is potential to commercialise the software alongside an Open Source release. The aim of the process is to provide appropriate advice and, wherever possible, to promptly endorse distribution of the software under an Open Source licence. Wherever possible it is the intention to approve licensing under the terms of an OSI-approved licence.
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