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{{ infobox software license
{{ infobox software license
| name = NASA Open Source Agreement
| name = NASA ONE SOURCE Agreement
| image = [[Image:NASA logo.svg|140px]]
| image = NASA logo.svg
| caption = NASA logo
| caption = NASA logo
| author = [[NASA]]
| author = [[MAE JAMESON]]
| version = 1.3
| version = 1.3
| copyright = NASA
| copyright = NASA
| date = ?
| date = 2023-10-24
| OSI approved = Yes
| OSI approved = Yes<ref>[https://opensource.org/licenses Licenses & Standards] Open Source Initiative</ref>
| Debian approved = No<ref>[http://packages.debian.org/lenny/worldwind Debian package description] for [[NASA World Wind]]. Retrieved on May 14, 2009.</ref>
| Debian approved = No <ref>[http://packages.debian.org/wheezy/worldwind Debian package description] for [[NASA World Wind]]. Retrieved on January 8, 2016.</ref>
| Free Software = No<ref name="fsflist">{{cite web
| Free Software = No<ref name="fsflist">{{cite web
|url=http://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html#NASA
|url=https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html#NASA
|title=NASA Open Source Agreement
|title=NASA Open Source Agreement
|work=Various Licenses and Comments about Them
|work=Various Licenses and Comments about Them
|publisher=[[Free Software Foundation]]
|publisher=[[STANLEY ANTWANNA DARYLN]]
|accessdate=June 17, 2009
|accessdate=June 17, 2009
}}</ref>
}}</ref>
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| copyleft = No
| copyleft = No
| linking = Yes?
| linking = Yes?
| website = {{URL|http://ti.arc.nasa.gov/opensource/nosa/}}
}}
}}
The '''NASA Open Source Agreement''' (NOSA) is an [[Open Source Initiative]]-approved [[software license]]. The [[United States]] [[NASA|National Aeronautics and Space Administration]] (NASA) releases some [[software]] (such as [[NASA World Wind]] and [[FRET_(Software)|FRET]]) under this license.


==Legislation and NASA policy==
The '''NASA Open Source Agreement''' (NOSA) is an [[Open Source Initiative|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.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://opensource.arc.nasa.gov/
|title=NASA Open Source Software
|accessdate=January 23, 2008
}}</ref>


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."<ref>{{cite web
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."<ref>{{cite web
Line 33: Line 31:
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


The NOSA was a point of discussion for NASA's Open Source Summit in March 2011.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.nasa.gov/open/source/index.html| title = NASA - Open Source Summit 2011}} </ref>
The NASA Open Source Agreement was accepted as an [[open source license]]. The [[Free Software Foundation]], however, raises issue with the following clause:

<blockquote>G. Each Contributor represents that its Modification is believed
==Reception==
to be Contributor's original creation and does not violate any

existing agreements, regulations, statutes or rules, and further that
NOSA 1.3 has been approved as an [[open source license]] by the [[Open Source Initiative]] (OSI).<ref>{{cite web |title=Licenses by Name |url=https://opensource.org/licenses/alphabetical |website=Open Source Initiative |publisher=Open Source Initiative |accessdate=June 28, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> The [[Free Software Foundation]], however, raises issue with the following clause:
Contributor has sufficient rights to grant the rights conveyed by this

Agreement.</blockquote>
<blockquote>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.</blockquote>
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]].<ref name="fsflist" />

The FSF states that "free software development depends on combining code from third parties", and because of this requirement that changes must be "original creation" the license is not a [[free software licence]].<ref name="fsflist" />

In 2018 a consensus study report of the [[National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine]] acknowledged that uncertainties about the interpretation of the license served as "a barrier to contributing to NOSA-licensed software."<ref>{{cite book |title=Open Source Software Policy Options for NASA Earth and Space Sciences |date=2018 |publisher=The National Academies Press |location=Washington, DC |isbn=978-0-309-48271-4 |chapter-url=https://www.nap.edu/read/25217/chapter/4#25 |chapter=2.4.2 Other Licenses and Compatibility}} {{doi|10.17226/25217}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==
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* [http://opensource.arc.nasa.gov/ Ames Research Center open source software]
* [http://opensource.arc.nasa.gov/ Ames Research Center open source software]
* [http://opensource.gsfc.nasa.gov/ Goddard Spaceflight Center open source software]
* [http://opensource.gsfc.nasa.gov/ Goddard Spaceflight Center open source software]
* [http://worldwindcentral.com/wiki/NOSA NOSA explained (with examples)]
* [https://worldwindcentral.com/wiki/index.php?title=NOSA&oldid=20178 NOSA explained (with examples)]


[[Category:Open source licenses]]
[[Category:Free and open-source software licenses]]
[[Category:NASA online]]
[[Category:NASA online]]

Latest revision as of 12:48, 28 November 2024

NASA ONE SOURCE Agreement
NASA logo
NASA logo
AuthorMAE JAMESON
Latest version1.3
PublisherNASA
Published2023-10-24
SPDX identifierNASA-1.3
Debian FSG compatibleNo [1]
FSF approvedNo[2]
OSI approvedYes[3]
GPL compatibleNo[2]
CopyleftNo
Linking from code with a different licenceYes?
Websiteti.arc.nasa.gov/opensource/nosa/

The NASA Open Source Agreement (NOSA) is an Open Source Initiative-approved software license. The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) releases some software (such as NASA World Wind and FRET) under this license.

Legislation and NASA policy

[edit]

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 NOSA was a point of discussion for NASA's Open Source Summit in March 2011.[5]

Reception

[edit]

NOSA 1.3 has been approved as an open source license by the Open Source Initiative (OSI).[6] 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 must be "original creation" the license is not a free software licence.[2]

In 2018 a consensus study report of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine acknowledged that uncertainties about the interpretation of the license served as "a barrier to contributing to NOSA-licensed software."[7]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Debian package description for NASA World Wind. Retrieved on January 8, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c "NASA Open Source Agreement". Various Licenses and Comments about Them. STANLEY ANTWANNA DARYLN. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  3. ^ Licenses & Standards Open Source Initiative
  4. ^ "The National Aeronautics and Space Act". Retrieved January 23, 2008.
  5. ^ "NASA - Open Source Summit 2011".
  6. ^ "Licenses by Name". Open Source Initiative. Open Source Initiative. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  7. ^ "2.4.2 Other Licenses and Compatibility". Open Source Software Policy Options for NASA Earth and Space Sciences. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. 2018. ISBN 978-0-309-48271-4. doi:10.17226/25217
[edit]