System and method for identifying open source usage

A method, system and computer program product, the method comprising: obtaining one or more source files to be examined for open source usage; extracting partial representation of a source file from the source files; creating fingerprints from the partial representation; encoding the fingerprints into characteristics; issuing a query to a database for retrieving from an open source and characteristics index one or more open source files associated with the characteristics; receiving a response including the retrieved open source file; checking whether the source file comprises a snippet from the open source file; and subject to the source file comprising the snippet, outputting an identification of the open source file.