NASA Open Source Agreement

NASA Open Source Agreement

NASA logo
Author	NASA
Version	1.3
Publisher	NASA
Published	?
DFSG compatible	No[1]
Free software	No[2]
OSI approved	Yes
GPL compatible	No[2]
Copyleft	No
Linking from code with a different license	Yes?

The NASA Open Source Agreement (NOSA) is an OSI-approved software license. The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) releases some software (such as NASA World Wind) under this license. The NOSA allows NASA to increase software quality and accelerate development by involving a broader community in code review and contribution. It is also hoped that open sourced NASA software will maximize awareness and impact of NASA research, particularly in support of NASA's education mission.^[3]

Publication of open source software fits in with Agency functions outlined under the National Aeronautics and Space Act, that is, to "provide for the widest practicable and appropriate dissemination of information concerning its activities and the results thereof."^[4]

The NASA Open Source Agreement was accepted as an open source license. The Free Software Foundation, however, raises issue with the following clause:

G. Each Contributor represents that its Modification is believed to be Contributor's original creation and does not violate any existing agreements, regulations, statutes or rules, and further that Contributor has sufficient rights to grant the rights conveyed by this Agreement.

The FSF states that “free software development depends on combining code from third parties”, and because of this requirement that changes be your “original creation” the license is not a free software licence.^[2]

See also

• Permissive and copyleft licences
• Glossary of legal terms in technology
• List of software licenses

References

1. ^ Debian package description for NASA World Wind. Retrieved on May 14, 2009.
2. ^ ^{a b c} "NASA Open Source Agreement". Various Licenses and Comments about Them. Free Software Foundation. http://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html#NASA. Retrieved June 17, 2009. 
3. ^ "NASA Open Source Software". http://opensource.arc.nasa.gov/. Retrieved January 23, 2008. 
4. ^ "The National Aeronautics and Space Act". http://www.nasa.gov/offices/ogc/about/space_act1.html. Retrieved January 23, 2008. 

External links

• Text of the NASA Open Source Software Agreement in various formats
• Ames Research Center open source software
• Goddard Spaceflight Center open source software
• NOSA explained (with examples)