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OpenChain Specification 2.0 is a set of requirements for an organization’s open-source license-compliance program—not a certification for an individual software package. Published in April 2019, it is functionally identical to OpenChain 2.1 and ISO/IEC 5230:2020. ISO lists the 2020 standard as its current edition, reviewed and confirmed in 2026.
What is OpenChain Specification 2.0?
OpenChain Specification 2.0 defines the key requirements for a quality open-source license-compliance program. Its purpose is to provide a benchmark that builds trust between organizations exchanging software that contains open-source components. The project’s current page identifies 2.0 as the April 2019 version; the current ISO edition is ISO/IEC 5230:2020, which ISO records as reviewed and confirmed in 2026. OpenChain says its 2.1 text is functionally identical to both 2.0 and ISO/IEC 5230:2020. The historical 2.0 text is available in the original PDF.
ISO describes the standard as specifying requirements for a program, rather than prescribing one universal process. The project-hosted 2.1 text puts the distinction this way: “This document focuses on the ‘what’ and ‘why’ aspects of a program rather than the ‘how’ and ‘when’.” Organizations can therefore adapt their procedures to their size, markets, products, and chosen scope.
What does the specification require a program to address?
The requirements span the foundation of the compliance program and the work needed to review, approve, and deliver software containing open-source components. They cover:
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- Program foundation: policy, competence, awareness, scope, and understanding license obligations.
- Tasks and responsibilities: defining relevant work and supporting the people who carry it out.
- Review and approval: evaluating open-source content, including the bill of materials and license compliance.
- Compliance artifacts: creating and delivering materials needed by recipients.
- Community engagement: understanding participation in open-source communities, including contributions.
- Adherence: maintaining the program and the basis for its conformance claim.
The specification sets expectations; it is not a step-by-step implementation manual. OpenChain provides separate FAQ and implementation resources for organizations looking for practical guidance.
What does conformance mean, and who can claim it?
Conformance applies to an organization’s defined compliance program. The program must meet all applicable requirements before it can be called conformant. The organization chooses the scope: it may cover one product or part of a business, or extend more broadly across the organization. A narrow scope does not reduce the requirement to meet every specification requirement within that scope.
OpenChain identifies two adoption routes: self-certification, or working with an official partner for independent assessment or third-party certification. The material published on the project’s license-compliance page does not establish that an external audit is universally required, nor does it publish comparative costs for the routes.
A software package itself is not “OpenChain conformant.” Instead, a package may benefit from having been prepared through an organization’s conformant program. When evaluating a supplier, ask whether the supplied software was prepared under a conformant program and what that program’s scope covers.
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What compliance artifacts might a program produce?
The outputs depend on the licenses governing the software being supplied. Illustrative artifacts include:
- Attribution and copyright notices.
- Source code, build scripts, and installation scripts.
- Copies of applicable licenses and notices of modifications.
- Written offers where relevant.
- An open-source component bill of materials.
- SPDX documents.
This list is not exhaustive, and not every software delivery needs every item. The program needs a way to determine which artifacts are required for the particular components and applicable license obligations.
What OpenChain does not guarantee
Conformance is not a legal opinion, and it does not guarantee that every license obligation has been met in every instance. The project calls for organizations to designate legal expertise and have a process that gives appropriate attention to analyzing and fulfilling license obligations. The specification is not a guide to interpreting a specific license and does not replace legal counsel.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How should an organization choose an adoption route and scope?
Both self-certification and partner-assisted assessment or third-party certification are recognized routes. The right choice depends on the organization’s need for independent assurance, internal capacity, and available support. OpenChain’s published materials do not provide a universal cost or time comparison.
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| Choice | What it means | Practical consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Self-certification | The organization evaluates its own program against the requirements. | Requires internal ownership and a disciplined review; comparative time and cost are not stated by OpenChain. |
| Partner-assisted assessment or third-party certification | An official partner supports an independent assessment or certification route. | Provides external support or assessment; availability, time, and cost depend on the partner and are not stated as universal figures by OpenChain. |
| Narrow program scope | For example, a single product or business area. | Can be a practical starting boundary, but the full set of requirements still applies to the program within that scope. |
| Broad program scope | A wider portion of the organization’s operations. | Covers more activity and therefore requires the program to address the relevant work across that wider boundary. |
OpenChain’s FAQ reports that 20% of German companies with more than 2,000 employees were using OpenChain ISO/IEC 5230, citing a 2021 Bitkom survey sponsored by PwC. That percentage is the FAQ’s report of the survey result; the underlying survey was not independently consulted here.
Where can you read the specification?
For the historical 2.0 edition, consult the OpenChain Specification 2.0 PDF. For the current project-hosted text, see Specification 2.1. The project describes 2.1 as functionally identical to 2.0 and ISO/IEC 5230:2020. For the ISO edition and lifecycle status, consult the ISO record.
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