O'Reilly Open Source Convention - August 1-5, 2005

Session
Reducing the Risk of Using Open Source: New Tools, Services, and Approaches
Kevin Bedell, Director of Training, Editor of Linux World, Black Duck Software
Mark A. Brewer, CEO, Covalent

Track: Open Source Business Review
Date: Thursday, August 4th, 2005
Time: 4:30pm - 5:15pm
Location: E145
Open source, like commercial software, comes with certain risks that must be managed. Unlike commercial software, open source does not automatically come with a vendor who is motivated to manage those risks. However, a new breed of company has emerged who are making a business of helping companies managing the risks of using open source. Kevin Bedell, Open Source Editor of LinuxWorld and Senior Consultant at Black Duck Software, will lead a discussion of the risks associated with using open source, and the emerging collection of tools and services that help companies manage those risks.
The panel will address strategic, operational, and legal risks associated with using open source. Strategic risks include overall security risks, customizing open source to meet your business needs, and evaluating the maturity of a specific open source application. Operational risks include the availability of adequate support and documentation for open source as well as the process for fixing defects in the code. Legal risks include copyright and licensing infringement as well as managing the risk of combining open source code with the company's own, internally-developed source code.
The panel will discuss tools and services now becoming available to help manage these risks and accelerate their ability to leverage open source effectively.