Who are the FOSS police? -LinuxInsider.com

More than 70 percent of mobile applications with open source code do not meet basic open source license requirements, claims Open Logic.

The company scanned compiled binaries and source code if available for the top paid and free Android apps and iOS in the business and consumer associations sectors.

66 of the 635 who viewed, Apache or GPL/LGPL licenses. 71% of these contained violations of those licenses, according to the company.

Open Logic respond by press time to requests for comment.

The compliance rate for Android apps using the Apache or GPL/LGPL licenses was 27 percent, Open Logic. Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) fared better here, with 32 percent of iOS apps examines meets the licensing requirements.

Open Logic examined 635 apps in different categories. These include apps for banking, sports and games, apps from famous bands and media organizations and popular apps from smaller companies.

The company invented several apps with extensive end user license agreements that the copyright on all software included belonged to the developers, claimed although some of the code in them was open source.

Thirteen of the apps that open source license requirements violated came from the iTunes App Store. Open Logic.

Mobile apps will form the new frontier for open source compliance, the company added. Many mobile and tablet developers can not fully understand the open source code that they use and the license requirements that apply.

Apple has previously attracted several apps from the store who were determined to be under the GPL, and Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) has takedown requests received for Android apps that violated the GPL, Open Logic said.

"In the past, when we have approached with a report of an open source license infringement on our different app markets or on sites such as code.google.com, we have people on the DMCA process so that we can take the offending project" Chris DiBona, Google's open source programs manager, told Linux Insider.

"We take this issue very seriously," DiBona added.

Apple has not responded to requests for comment by press time.

Although Open Logic examined more than 600 apps, only about 10 percent of 635 apps open source code examined contained. As 71% of the apps with open source code, the conditions of their license violated, that works at about 7% of the apps examined.

Simon Phipps, Director of the Open Source Initiative (OSI), told "a product that is built using input software written by others must carefully manage the conditions under which the copyright is licensed," Linux Insider.

Open Logic the attitude is more of a marketing stunt, proposed Phipps.

If someone indeed violates open source license requirements, there is what appeal? Who will crack the whip for open source?

The Linux Foundation has an open compliance program that a set of open source tools, training curricula, a self-administered assessment checklist, as well as a data interchange standard exists.

While the program is supported by major vendors, participation in it is apparently voluntary and compliance with licensing requirements seems to be based on the honor system--what else can a self-administered assessment checklist result in?

"The Linux Foundation's open compliance program is dedicated to education and does not include the enforcement," said Amanda McPherson, vice president at the Foundation, Linux Insider.

"We encourage the entire open source Software community to work together to ensure apps are compatible with open source licenses," McPherson added.

The OSI, is more of an advocacy organization, Andrew Oliver, a member of that organization's Board of Directors, in turn, Oliver told Linux Insider.

"While we have an interest in educating people about what is and is not open source, I would consider license enforcement outside of our mission at this point," Oliver worked out.

"The OSI provides the framework and basic licenses for those who wish to open source development, but it is to rights holders to defend themselves the works they licenses," Michael Tiemann, vice president at Red Hat (NYSE: RHT) which serves as the President of the OSI, told Linux Insider.

In other words, boys and girls, you're on your own.

But that doesn't mean you have to go alone. The Software Freedom Law Center provides legal services to FLOSSers and also shut down publications that contain a guide on how to ensure compliance with open source licenses.

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