We define what is open source.

OpenSource.ngo is a nonprofit authority dedicated to collecting, curating, and publishing open source licenses. We steward the global licensing canon while developing modern licenses for the realities of today’s software, AI systems, and human rights concerns.

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Mission Focus

An institutional home for open source licensing.

Curate and preserve the full spectrum of open source licenses.
Publish clear guidance for developers, organizations, and policymakers.
Draft next-generation licenses centered on ethics, freedom, and global human rights.

Our Role

Stewardship, clarity, and modernization.

OpenSource.ngo serves as a trusted reference hub for open source licensing. We curate licenses from across the internet, publish accessible summaries, and research how legal frameworks intersect with modern software, AI systems, and geopolitical realities.

Authoritative curation

We catalog licenses with clear provenance, terms, and context so the ecosystem has an authoritative reference source.

Modern license development

We draft next-generation licenses to address AI usage, ethical constraints, anti-censorship principles, and human rights protections.

Global guidance

We publish plain-language guidance to help developers and organizations choose appropriate licenses with confidence.

Principles

A global open source movement anchored in human dignity.

We believe open source licensing should uphold freedom of expression, resist censorship, and protect against exploitation by authoritarian or repressive regimes. Our work supports a future where open source remains a force for transparency, collaboration, and shared prosperity.

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Institutional commitments

Open licensing clarity for developers and organizations.
Ethical safeguards for AI and emerging technologies.
Global access to license knowledge and compliance guidance.
Research and advocacy for digital freedom worldwide.

Nonprofit status

A fiscally sponsored public-benefit organization.

OpenSource.ngo is operated by DigitalPlat Foundation, a fiscally sponsored 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in the United States. Donations support independent research, public documentation, and open source stewardship worldwide.

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Visit the license library for authoritative, curated license texts and summaries.

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