Bruce Perens

Bruce Perens is a prominent American computer programmer and a passionate advocate for the free software movement. He is best known for creating The Open Source Definition and for publishing the first formal announcement and manifesto of open source, which laid the groundwork for the movement.

In collaboration with Eric S. Raymond, Perens co-founded the Open Source Initiative (OSI), an organization dedicated to promoting and protecting open source software. His influence extends beyond the tech community; in two thousand five, he represented the open source movement at the United Nations World Summit on the Information Society, invited by the United Nations Development Programme.

Perens is also an amateur radio operator, holding the call sign K6BP. He actively promotes open radio communications standards and open-source hardware, reflecting his commitment to accessibility and innovation in technology.

In two thousand sixteen, he co-authored the article "Open Cars" with Lothar Determann, which was published in the Berkeley Technology Law Journal. Two years later, he founded the Open Research Institute (ORI), a non-profit organization focused on advancing technologies related to Open Source, Open Hardware, Open Standards, Open Content, and Open Access to Research.

In April two thousand twenty-two, Perens announced his departure from ORI to establish a new charity, HamOpen.org, aimed at supporting amateur radio initiatives and aligning with the ARRL organization for liability insurance benefits. His ongoing work includes supporting convention exhibitions for projects like M17 and FreeDV, showcasing his dedication to the open-source community.