Overview
The Open Source Resistance is a grassroots movement that advocates for employees to contribute to open-source projects on company time without sacrificing their intellectual property or compromising sensitive data. This movement is centered around the concept of "open-source-compatible" enterprise software licenses, which would allow developers to contribute to OSS projects without risking corporate liability.
What it does
The Open Source Resistance argues that maintaining open-source dependencies is already part of an employee's job, even if management refuses to acknowledge it. The movement encourages employees to take ownership of their work and contribute to open-source projects during work hours, as long as they are not compromising company secrets or violating their employment contract. This approach is seen as a way to balance the value that companies extract from open-source maintainers with the need for maintainers to sustain themselves.
The movement's advocates argue that companies already depend on open-source software and that maintaining it is essential for preserving the integrity of open-source ecosystems. They also point out that shareholders have received free open-source subsidies for decades, and that it is time for companies to give back to the open-source community.
Tradeoffs
While the Open Source Resistance movement has its benefits, it also has its limitations and potential drawbacks. For example, employees who contribute to open-source projects during work hours may face objections from their employers, who may view this as "time theft" or "stealing from shareholders." Additionally, employees who are junior or precarious may not have the leverage to absorb the potential downside of contributing to open-source projects during work hours.
To mitigate these risks, the movement's advocates recommend that employees verify their contract, keep confidential information at work, and make sure they own the open-source IP they ship. They also suggest that employees negotiate their IP agreement and ask for an open-source carve-out in writing before signing their employment contract.
In conclusion, the Open Source Resistance movement is a call to action for employees to take ownership of their work and contribute to open-source projects during work hours. While it has its limitations and potential drawbacks, it also has the potential to benefit both employees and companies by promoting a more sustainable and equitable open-source ecosystem.
Practical takeaway: If you are an open-source maintainer, consider negotiating an open-source carve-out in your employment contract and contributing to open-source projects during work hours, as long as you are not compromising company secrets or violating your employment contract. This can help you balance your work and personal life while also giving back to the open-source community.
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