Software Freedom Law Center
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC) is an organization that provides legal representation and related services to protect and advance free software / open source software. It was launched in February 2005 with Eben Moglen as Chairman. Initial funding of $4 million USD was pledged by Open Source Development Labs.
A news article stated: Moglen expects – in fact, plans for – a large turnover in the staff. After five years, he anticipates 20 to 30 lawyers will have passed through the Center. By the time these alumni move on, Moglen hopes that its members will have the expertise to advise both communities and corporations alike. It will also create a loose association whose members can consult with each other as necessary. [1]
SFLC is particularly known for its role in the drafting of version 3 of the GNU General Public License (GPL). This work was done on behalf of its client, the Free Software Foundation.
On September 20, 2007 the SFLC filed a lawsuit for copyright infringement against Monsoon Multimedia, Inc. [1] claiming noncompliance with the GPL license for including BusyBox, a lightweight set of standard Unix utilities, in their Monsoon Multimedia HAVA line of products [2] without releasing BusyBox's source code. This is allegedly the first time a company is being taken to court for a GPL violation in the U.S. [3]
On December 7, 2007 the SFLC filed a lawsuit for copyright infringement against Verizon Communications, Inc.[4] also claiming noncompliance with the GPL license for including BusyBox in the Actiontec MI424WR MoCA wireless routers bundled with the FiOS fiber optic bandwidth service. The GPL requires that Verizon publish the source code for the MI424WR to the recipients of the device.
Contents |
[edit] Team
As of December 2007, SFLC's directors were:[5]
- Eben Moglen (Chairman)
- Philippe Aigrain
- Diane M. Peters
- Lawrence Lessig
- Mark Webbink
- Daniel J. Weitzner
Other positions included:
- Eben Moglen, Director-Counsel
- Daniel B. Ravicher, Legal Director
- Bradley Kuhn, Chief Technology Officer
- Richard Fontana, Counsel
- Karen M. Sandler, Counsel
- James Vasile, Counsel
- Jim Garrison, Public Relations Coordinator
- Ian Sullivan, Executive Secretary
- Rachel A. Weiner, Office Manager
[edit] Actions
- SFLC adds Wine to client list
- Press Release: SFLC to represent the Wine project (see also Wine)
- X.Org Foundation Hires Software Freedom Law Center
- SFLC to represent Plone and the Plone Foundation (see Plone)
[edit] References
- ^ SFLC notice on the lawsuit filed against Monsoon Multimedia, Inc.
- ^ LinuxWatch: The device behind the GPL's first U.S. legal test
- ^ LinuxWatch: First U.S. GPL lawsuit filed
- ^ BusyBox Developers File GPL Infringement Lawsuit Against Verizon Communications
- ^ Team - Software Freedom Law Center. Retrieved on 2007-12-23.
