The Relationship Between Open Source Software and Standard Setting

The objective of the study is to identify possible commonalities and barriers for interaction between standardisation and open source processes.

The study should clarify the role of open source in the context of standard setting, in particular its interplay with the licensing of standards-essential patents under “fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory” (FRAND) terms and provide an overview of free and open source software (FOSS) and FRAND features in standardisation.

The study on the interaction between open source software and FRAND licensing in standardisation is carried out on behalf of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre by Fraunhofer Institute of Open Communication System FOKUS and Mirko Böhm representing the Open Invention Network.

Communication about the study:

• European Commission: Study on the role of open source in standard setting
• EU Science Hub: JRC Study on the Interaction between Open Source Software and FRAND licensing in Standardisation
• Publication of the final report: The Relationship Between Open Source Software and Standard Setting

The project was originally named “The Interaction between Open Source Software and FRAND licensing in Standardisation”. The title was later simplified to “The Relationship Between Open Source Software and Standard Setting”.