Open source licensing expert Bruce Perens has joined the board of directors of Open Source Risk Management (OSRM), a start-up providing insurance and collective defense services to companies using open source software. Perens, originator of the highly popular busybox utility, is well-known as a leading figure in open source software.

Perens, who has advocated the preparation of a mutual defense for some time, stated: “Collective legal defense is the next necessary step for Open Source to be ready for business. Through a concentration of legal resources and expertise, OSRM will be a formidable power against the legal opponents to Open Source. My intention is to help ensure its efforts are consistent with the ethos of the Open Source movement.”

OSRM provides corporate indemnification insurance to companies using open source software, legal advice subscriptions for open source developers, and collective defense programs to companies threatened with litigation. The company earlier hired Groklaw editor Pamela Jones as Director of Litigation Research.

Perens created the popular busybox utility which provides a rudimentary Linux environment on resource constrained embedded systems. Perens also created Electric Fence, a mallac() debugger for C programmers.

Perens is perhaps best known as a former Debian Project leader, who along with other Debian developers, authored the Debian Free Software Guidelines in 1997. That document went on to become the Open Source Definition (OSD).

Perens also co-founded the Open Source Initiative, an organization dedicated to managing and promoting the OSD, the Linux Standard Base, and No-Code International, a petition to remove the Morse code requirements from Amateur Radio licensing.

In addition, Perens is the editor of a book series titled “Bruce Perens' Open Source Series,” and is Senior Research Scientist for Open Source at George Washington University's Cyber Security Policy Research Institute. Perens is an elected director of Software in the Public Interest, Inc. and spends significant time working on patent policy issues of standards organizations in conjunction with his own research organization.

Previously, Perens spent two years as Senior Global Strategist for Linux and Open Source at HP and was president of Linux Capital Group, a venture capital fund specializing in Linux. Prior to that, he spent 20 years in computer graphic animation, including 12 years at Pixar Animation Studios.

“A highly respected leader in the Open Source movement, Bruce will provide OSRM with invaluable expertise as we work to provide legal infrastructure to the Open Source community,” said Daniel Egger, OSRM founder and chairman.

 
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