I think you misunderstand my thesis. SQLite is open source, despite the fact that it fails to meet OSI's somewhat bizarre definition of "open source".
https://wiki.debian.org/DFSGLicenses#Public_Domain
As they mention here, it is theoretically possible that code dedicated to the public domain might still be encumbered in a way that makes it not open source: "we are unaware of a case where a jurisdiction has upheld a copyright claim to a work which has been dedicated to the public domain everywhere".
This is a silly game and there is nothing to be gained from playing it, for anyone.