Russian software and operating systems running on open source code may be at risk of blocking. Against the backdrop of events in Ukraine, a number of developers of the source open source code, which is hosted on the international platform GitHub, want to restrict access to it to their Russian colleagues. Due to the terms of licensing agreements, which include a ban on open source countries under sanctions, existing programs on such solutions may be left without support, lawyers confirm.

Russian software developed on the basis of open source code (Open Source), due to US technological sanctions, may partially stop working due to restrictions from its foreign developers. Developers have already started posting messages on Twitter that they will block their source codes for Russian users. This, in particular, was stated by the creator of a large open source repository on GitHub (an international platform for software development by the American Microsoft) Florian Roth.

Open source software differs from proprietary (private, proprietary) in that it does not belong to a specific company and is in the public domain for all developers. Based on it, a specialist can write his own program, but subject to the rules of the license agreement. In particular, the developer has the right to modify the source code and use it for his own purposes, and the creator of Open Source can describe in which cases he has the right to deprive the user of support for his solution.

Each piece of open source code that is transferred to the final product is governed by a specific license, explains Alexander Zhuravlev, Managing Partner at EBR law firm:

“Many licenses have a clause on sanctions, and if the US and the EU want, they can introduce them and prohibit the use of open source software or architecture - then Russian products will not be able to receive support and updates or use such software officially.”