> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.researchanddesire.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# What Open Source Means

> Learn about the OSSM's open source certification, licensing under CERN OHL-S v2, and what this means for contributors.

## Certified Open Source Hardware

Yes, the OSSM is genuinely open source. The project is registered with the [Open Source Hardware Association (OSHWA)](https://certification.oshwa.org/ca000057.html) and licensed under the **CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 - Strongly Reciprocal (CERN-OHL-S v2)**.

<Frame caption="OSHWA Certification Badge">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/researchanddesire/HGfUAbc-MQqdP4OM/ossm/guides/housekeeping/open-source/_images/af168015-b80a-4464-8778-e391278d9748.webp?fit=max&auto=format&n=HGfUAbc-MQqdP4OM&q=85&s=f676dceb6cdfaa0478a961d4fa5e8bb4" alt="OSHWA certification badge showing the OSSM is certified open source hardware" width="287" data-path="ossm/guides/housekeeping/open-source/_images/af168015-b80a-4464-8778-e391278d9748.webp" />
</Frame>

## What This Means for You

When you contribute to this GitHub repository, your contributions fall under the same CERN-OHL-S v2 license. You can find the complete license text in the [licence documentation](/ossm/guides/housekeeping/open-source/licence).

<Info>
  The strongly reciprocal nature of CERN-OHL-S v2 ensures that derivative works remain open source, protecting the community's collective efforts.
</Info>

## Community Contributions

Open source means contributions can come from anyone, anywhere. Before using or contributing to the OSSM:

* Review the [safety guidelines](/ossm/guides/housekeeping/safety) thoroughly
* Understand your personal risks and boundaries
* Familiarize yourself with the [contribution process](/ossm/guides/contributing/how-to-become-a-contributor)