Are there any laws concerning the use of open source software?

In Georgia, the legal use of open source software is governed by both state and federal law. Generally speaking, the use of open source software is allowed as long as the user abides by the applicable licensing terms. The Georgia Open Source Software Act, which was passed in 2006, encourages the use of open source software by state agencies, educational institutions and other public entities. The Act provides for a legal framework to ensure the secure and efficient use of open source software in Georgia. It also requires state agencies to consider open source software when making purchases and to provide training and other technical support to users of open source software. At the federal level, the U.S. government has issued several laws concerning the use of open source software. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requires the use of open source software when it is “the most beneficial to the government.” The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has also issued guidelines requiring agencies to consider the use of open source software for their IT needs when doing an economic analysis of their options. In summary, open source software is legally permissible in Georgia as long as the user abides by the applicable licensing terms. The Georgia Open Source Software Act and several federal laws also encourage and protect the use of open source software in the state.

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Are there any laws concerning the use of open source software?

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