Atheros has taken its simplified scheme to set encryption keys into the open-source world: JumpStart lets multiple devices obtain a WPA encryption key of sufficient length and complexity to defeat crackers without that key being re-entered on each machine. Instead a secure key exchange is signed by a short password that can be used.

JumpStart solves a well-documented problem of weak passphrase choice in WPA in which a short, not very complicated, but perfectly legal passphrase (like "spaghetti") is used to derive the WPA master key. In JumpStart, a complex key is secured using Diffie-Hellman in such a way that a very simple password protects the transaction in a very strongly encrypted fashion. This allows compensation for the WPA key choice problem.

Atheros is putting JumpStart into open-source development but reserving its trademark to those that apply and pass interoperability testing. Atheros already allows limited access to its Wi-Fi chips through the independent madwifi project. I can only think that the results of allowing that openness make them think that an open-source project was a valid approach.

One highly useful part of open source is that the licensing is much simpler. There's still a copyright license and terms, but they're part of the package you obtain. You don't have to put legal time and money into signing contracts with every party. Everyone accepts the same license agreement.

Update: The project is hosted at jumpstart-wireless.sourceforge.net and is now live.