Software Freedom Law Center
| Software Freedom Law Center
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|---|---|
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| legal form | 501 (c) (3) |
| founding | 2005 |
| Seat | New York City , United States |
| management | Moglen |
| Website | http://www.softwarefreedom.org/ |
The Software Freedom Law Center ( SFLC ) is an organization that specializes in legal representation and related services for developers of free / libre open source software .
They offer these pro bono . The Software Freedom Law Center was founded in 2005 with Eben Moglen as CEO. The 4 million US dollars that will be used for the financing came from a fund set up by the Open Source Development Labs .
activity
GPL version 3
The SFLC supported the Free Software Foundation between 2005 and 2007 in the development of the third version of the Free Software License GNU General Public License (GPLv3). Along with Richard Stallman , SFLC CEO Eben Moglen is also one of the lead authors. In August 2008, the SFLC published guidelines for dealing with the GPL. Practical advice on how to use this license is given.
BusyBox
Between 2007 and 2009, the SFLC litigated on behalf of the two main developers of BusyBox (Erik Andersen and Rob Landley) against various manufacturers of electronic products. These were violations of the second version of the GNU General Public License (GPLv2).
- September 20, 2007 - SFLC opened a lawsuit against electronics manufacturer Monsoon Multimedia . With the use of BusyBox in the Monsoon Multimedia HAVA product line and the simultaneous refusal to disclose the source program, the manufacturer violated the license terms of BusyBox. The two parties agreed on a settlement; the payment of a compensation sum to the plaintiff and the additional promise of the manufacturing company to comply with the licensing terms of the GPL in the future.
- November 20, 2007 - This was followed by a lawsuit against Xterasys and High-Gain Antennas for violating the GNU General Public License. On December 17, 2007, SFLC obtained a settlement between the plaintiff and Xterasys, in which the company stopped the delivery of further products until the source code was subsequently delivered. On March 6, 2008, High-Gain Antennas followed suit with the same concession.
- December 7, 2007 - A lawsuit against Verizon Communications for license violations through improper use of BusyBox was also resolved three months later. The plaintiffs agreed on a compensation payment and the admission of Verizon Communications to meet the license requirements in the future.
- June 10, 2008 - SFLC filed a lawsuit against Bell Microproducts and Bell Microproducts Super Micro Computer.
- December 14, 2009 - This was followed by the largest lawsuit to date against 14 electronics manufacturers. Including well-known manufacturers such as Best Buy , Samsung and Westinghouse . The lawsuit was settled with all but one of the manufacturers (until September 2012); the remaining case was decided in favor of the SFLC (or the Software Freedom Conservancy ).
Cisco Systems
On behalf of the Free Software Foundation, the SFLC sued Cisco Systems in December 2008 . The FSF accused the other party of license violations in Linksys. Despite using software that is licensed under the GPL, Cisco did not pass on the source code of the changed programs to its customers. This contradicts the basic principles of this licensing model. In May 2009, the two parties reached an out-of-court settlement. Cisco was entitled to an unknown amount for the FSF. Furthermore, Cisco agreed to pursue the required measures with regard to compliance with the GPL more closely.
Board members
As of January 2012, the SFLC board consists of the following members:
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Dr. Julia Küng: Software Freedom Law Center. Institute for Legal Questions on Free and Open Source Software, accessed January 19, 2012 .
- ^ Jens Ihlenfeld: GPL v3: The first draft. Golem, accessed January 19, 2012 .
- ↑ Jens Ihlenfeld: The GPLv3 is ready. Golem, accessed January 19, 2012 .
- ^ Eben Moglen: And Now ... Life After GPLv3. Freedom Now, accessed January 19, 2012 .
- ↑ Julius Stiebert: Dealing with the GPL. Heise, accessed January 19, 2012 .
- ↑ On Behalf of BusyBox Developers, SFLC Files First Ever US GPL Violation Lawsuit. Software Freedom Law Center, accessed January 19, 2012 .
- ^ Copy of the letter of complaint. (PDF; 68 kB) Software Freedom Law Center, accessed on January 19, 2012 (English).
- ↑ BusyBox Developers and Monsoon Multimedia Agree to Dismiss GPL Lawsuit. Software Freedom Law Center, accessed January 19, 2012 .
- ^ Second Round of GPL Infringement Lawsuits Filed on Behalf of BusyBox Developers. Software Freedom Law Center, accessed January 19, 2012 .
- ↑ BusyBox Developers and Xterasys Corporation Agree to Settle GPL Lawsuit. Software Freedom Law Center, accessed January 19, 2012 .
- ↑ BusyBox Developers and High-Gain Antennas Agree to Dismiss GPL Lawsuit. Software Freedom Law Center, accessed January 19, 2012 .
- ↑ BusyBox Developers File GPL Infringement Lawsuit Against Verizon Communications. Software Freedom Law Center, accessed January 19, 2012 .
- ↑ BusyBox Developers Agree To End GPL Lawsuit Against Verizon. Software Freedom Law Center, accessed January 19, 2012 .
- ^ SFLC Files Another Round of GPL Violation Lawsuits on Behalf of BusyBox Developers. Software Freedom Law Center, accessed January 19, 2012 .
- ↑ Best Buy, Samsung, Westinghouse, And Eleven Other Brands Named In SFLC Lawsuit. Software Freedom Law Center, accessed January 19, 2012 .
- ^ Jens Ihlenfeld: GPL lawsuits against 14 companies. Golem, accessed January 19, 2012 .
- ^ Software Freedom Conservancy, Inc. v. Best Buy Co., Inc. (1:09-cv-10155). District Court, SD New York, September 21, 2012, accessed January 29, 2017 (Court Docket).
- ↑ Spencer Dalziel: Free software lawyers win GPL lawsuit. In: The Inquirer. August 5, 2010, accessed January 29, 2017 .
- ↑ Free Software Foundation sues Cisco. Golem, accessed January 19, 2012 .
- ^ Julius Stiebert: Free Software Foundation and Cisco agree. Golem, accessed January 19, 2012 .
- ^ Team - Software Freedom Law Center. Retrieved August 15, 2011 .