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Open Source Initiative defends disallowing board candidate after timezone SNAFU

Feb 28, 2025 - theregister.com
The Open Source Initiative's (OSI) 2025 Board of Directors election faces controversy due to the rejection of Debian developer Luke Faraone's candidacy, which was submitted after a deadline that was inconsistently communicated. OSI's decision to adhere to a UTC deadline, despite its California location, has drawn criticism. Tracy Hinds, OSI chair, acknowledged the oversight in public communication but emphasized fairness to timely applicants. Meanwhile, the election occurs amid dissent over OSI's Open Source Artificial Intelligence Definition (OSAID), criticized by Bruce Perens for being incompatible with open source principles and perceived as influenced by corporate interests.

Bradley Kuhn and Richard Fontana are running for OSI board seats on a reform platform, advocating for the repeal of OSAID and changes to OSI's governance. They argue that OSAID has damaged OSI's reputation and influence within the FOSS community. Sam Johnston criticizes OSI's corporate ties, suggesting that sponsorships influence its policies. OSI's Executive Director Stefano Maffulli defends corporate sponsorships, asserting they don't affect governance and emphasizing OSI's commitment to public interest. The election, starting February 28, offers the community a chance to impact OSI's direction.

Key takeaways:

  • The OSI's 2025 Board of Directors election faces controversy due to the rejection of a candidate's late application, highlighting issues with deadline communication.
  • The Open Source Artificial Intelligence Definition (OSAID) has caused division within the open source community, with critics arguing it compromises the principles of open source.
  • Bradley Kuhn and Richard Fontana are running for OSI board seats on a reform platform, advocating for the repeal of the OSAID and increased transparency.
  • OSI's engagement with corporate sponsors has raised concerns about its independence, though the organization insists sponsorship does not influence governance.
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