Free/Open Services Definiton

Yet another definition of

Yet another definition of open and free. But it's no wonder. With the rising popularity of this "SaaS" a movement for keeping this kind of business fair for customers is indeed necessary.

The way I see it, very shortly, requirements that need to be met for a service to be considered fair and in that sense "free as in freedom" of its user are:

- Data must be exportable in an free format which can be imported elsewhere (freedom to leave, as mentioned).

- Software itself used must be Free Software.

A point of contention, the way I currently understand it, is then only in whether to require the service provider to release modifications to the public or not. If yes then Free/Open Services compliant licenses would have to contain a provision with such a requirement, I suppose.

Anyway, just my quick summary comment.