Eric Raymond,
the co-founder and president of the Open Source
Initiative, is stepping down from his post, the organization said
Tuesday.
The departure is one of several personnel and strategy changes at OSI, which is
dedicated to promoting open source software.
Raymond cited no reason for his departure but said he will continue to do outreach and
ambassadorial work for OSI under the title President Emeritus.
“One of the natural growth passages of a successful institution is
outgrowing the need for its founders to be running things,” Raymond said
in a statement. “One of the most important parts of any founder or
leader’s responsibility is to know when to step aside and let that
growth happen.”
Raymond is the author of several books, including The Cathedral and
the Bazaar, The New Hacker’s Dictionary and The Art of
Unix Programming. Along with friend Bruce Perens, Raymond designed
the language and marketing tactics around which OSI was formed.
OSI said Russ Nelson will succeed Raymond as OSI president. Michael
Tiemann will become vice president and Danese Cooper will
continue as secretary and treasurer.
In addition to Raymond’s departure, OSI said it intends to expand its
role beyond its traditional stewardship of the open source definition
and the certification of open source licenses.
Among the changes, OSI said it would establish principles of open source development and best practices; create a registry of software projects consistent with open source
licenses, principles and practices; and add international perspectives and initiatives related to open source.
“We have decided to expand our scope so that we can address open
source in the context of international issues, software project
practices, and open standards problems as separate from, even if highly
related to, open source licensing,” OSI said in a statement. “In so doing, we believe we can
strengthen what open source means, as well as expanding the role it plays
in society.”
Lawrence Rosen, OSI’s first general counsel and secretary and its
one-time executive director, is also stepping aside, OSI said.
In his stead, OSI said it has hired two new lawyers. Mark Radcliffe,
a partner at DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary, has been named OSI general
counsel. Laura Majerus, a partner at Fenwick & West, will hold the new
position of director of legal affairs.
Rosen said he will continue to support OSI’s activities to advise the
open source community on licensing and related issues.
