Open-source software vendors are prodding Congress to define some legal standards to support the development and deployment of such software.
The vendors, which have formed the nonprofit Open Source Initiative (OSI), are most concerned about the legal definition of open-source software. Traditionally, such vendors provide full access to the source code of their applications, allowing others to study, change and redistribute the software on their own.
http://www.fcw.com/article96758-11-09-06