Open-Source Licensing Management

(1) Establish a system for maintaining information about open-source components that are downloaded and used, keeping a copy of the license valid at the time the component was used

(2) Be aware of the different types of licenses and understand how a component is licensed before it is used

(3) Be aware of evolution pathways for components to understand how they might change in future

(4) Educate people about open source and open-source licensing so they can comply with license conditions

(5) Have auditing systems in place to detect developers breaking the terms of a license under tight deadlines

(6) Participate in the open-source community if you rely on open-source products

Explanation

Six recommended practices for managing open-source components: (1) maintain records of downloaded components and their licenses; (2) understand license types before use; (3) track component evolution; (4) educate developers about open source; (5) audit for compliance; (6) participate in the community. Assuming open-source software can be used in any way without reading the license is dangerous and can lead to legal liability.