Legal issues of open source licenses Matthias Van hoogenbemt ICRI – K.U.Leuven - IBBT

Overview IPR and software –Software Directive –Other methodes of protection Open source licenses –Background –Risks –Licenses: pro and contra

IPR and Software Software Directive (91/250/EEC) –Object and conditions? –Who is an author? –Beneficiaries of protection? –Rights?

Software Directive (1) Object? –No definition –Preparatory design material –Algorithms, routines, code –Literary works Conditions? –The author’s own intellectual creation

Software Directive (2) Who is an author? –Natural person –Joint authorship Joint works Collective works –Employee

Software Directive (3) Beneficiaries of protection Rights –Reproduction –Distribution –Translation, adaptation, arrangement, alteration

Software Directive (4) Exceptions –Error correction –Back-up copies –Observation, study and testing –Decompilation? Remedies Extent Conclusions

Other mechanisms Patent protection –EU vs USA Competition Law Contract Law

Overview IPR and software –Software Directive –Other methods of protection Open source licenses –Background –Risks –Licenses: pro and contra

Open Source Licenses (1) Background –Free vs. Open source software Risks Consequences

Open Source Licenses (2) GPL 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) MPL Advantages Legally sound –Disclaimer of warranty –Limitation of liability Less ‘viral’ –Distribution –Modification 30 days Disadvantages Copyleft: modifications

Open Source Licenses (4) LGPL Advantages Less obligations Less ‘viral’ Suitable for libraries Disadvantages Very technical license Use not encouraged by GNU project

Open Source Licenses (5) BSD 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) Apache Advantages Almost no obligations Trademark protection Source does not have to be distributed Compatible with other OS licenses Disadvantages No copyleft

Conlusions Advantages Intention will determine the choice Use vs. Development Use caution

Matthias Van hoogenbemt ICRI – K.U.Leuven – IBBT Sint-Michielsstraat 6 – 3000 Leuven Questions?