Summary:

The European Union (EU) has recently reached an agreement on the proposed Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), aimed at improving software security standards and cyber resilience. However, the Act has received mixed feedback, with concerns raised about its potential impact on open source software development.

Many open source organizations have expressed unease about the CRA, fearing it could impose liability on open source developers and maintainers, hindering innovation and software development. Open source software constitutes a significant portion (90%) of modern applications, making the potential consequences of the CRA concerning.

While the intent of the CRA is to enhance cybersecurity, critics argue that its lack of exemptions for open source projects could lead to unintended negative effects. Punishing open source contributors for vulnerabilities within a public repository might undermine the collaborative spirit of open source and discourage non-EU open source producers from engaging with the EU market.

The article predicts that the most likely outcome of the CRA will be open source contributors and projects distancing themselves from the EU. Larger software manufacturers may face increased costs, while smaller firms may struggle to compete. This could lead to significant disruption and chaos in the software development landscape.

To better understand the potential implications of the CRA on open source software, the article recommends exploring various resources discussing the topic. It also provides a fact sheet overview of the CRA, including its objectives and scope.

As the CRA moves forward, it is crucial for stakeholders to be informed about its potential consequences for open source software in the EU and to engage in ongoing discussions and reviews to address any adverse effects.