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Legal issues of open Legal issues of open source licensessource licenses
Matthias Van hoogenbemtICRI – K.U.Leuven - IBBT
OverviewOverview
• IPR and software– Software Directive– Other methodes of protection
• Open source licenses– Background– Risks– Licenses: pro and contra
IPR and SoftwareIPR and Software
• Software Directive (91/250/EEC)– Object and conditions?– Who is an author?– Beneficiaries of protection?– Rights?
Software Directive (1)Software Directive (1)
• Object?– No definition– Preparatory design material– Algorithms, routines, code– Literary works
• Conditions?– The author’s own intellectual creation
Software Directive (2)Software Directive (2)
• Who is an author?– Natural person– Joint authorship
• Joint works• Collective works
– Employee
Software Directive (3)Software Directive (3)
• Beneficiaries of protection
• Rights– Reproduction– Distribution– Translation, adaptation, arrangement,
alteration
Software Directive (4)Software Directive (4)
• Exceptions– Error correction– Back-up copies– Observation, study and testing– Decompilation?
• Remedies• Extent• Conclusions
Other mechanismsOther mechanisms
• Patent protection– EU vs USA
• Competition Law• Contract Law
OverviewOverview
• IPR and software– Software Directive– Other methods of protection
• Open source licenses– Background– Risks– Licenses: pro and contra
Open Source Licenses (1)Open Source Licenses (1)
• Background– Free vs. Open source software
• Risks• Consequences
Open Source Licenses (2)Open Source Licenses (2)GPLGPL
Advantages• Use, copying,… is
free• Use does not
require permission• ‘intelligent’
disclaimer• (v3) 30 days
Disadvantages• Copyleft: ‘viral’• (v3) TiVo clause• (v3) New terms• v2 and v3 not
compatible
Open Source Licenses (3)Open Source Licenses (3)MPLMPL
Advantages• Legally sound
– Disclaimer of warranty
– Limitation of liability
• Less ‘viral’– Distribution– Modification
• 30 days
Disadvantages• Copyleft:
modifications
Open Source Licenses (4)Open Source Licenses (4)LGPLLGPL
Advantages• Less obligations• Less ‘viral’• Suitable for
libraries
Disadvantages• Very technical
license• Use not
encouraged by GNU project
Open Source Licenses (5)Open Source Licenses (5)BSDBSD
Advantages• Almost no
obligations• Notice• Source does not
have to be distributed
• Compatible with other OS licenses
Disadvantages• No copyleft• Disclaimer
Open Source Licenses (6)Open Source Licenses (6)ApacheApache
Advantages• Almost no
obligations• Trademark
protection• Source does not
have to be distributed
• Compatible with other OS licenses
Disadvantages• No copyleft
ConlusionsConlusions
• Advantages• Intention will determine the choice• Use vs. Development• Use caution
Matthias Van hoogenbemt
ICRI – K.U.Leuven – IBBTSint-Michielsstraat 6 – 3000 Leuven
Questions?Questions?
