Software Freedom Law Center

The Software Freedom Law Center ( SFLC ) is an organization based in New York City, which specializes in legal offices and related services for developers of Free / Libre Open Source Software. This offer them pro bono. The Software Freedom Law Center in 2005 with Eben Moglen as CEO was founded. The 4 million U.S. dollars which will be spent on the financing came from a, set up by the Open Source Development Labs Fund.

Activity

GPL Version 3

The SFLC supported the Free Software Foundation between 2005 and 2007 in developing the third version of the Free Software GNU General Public License ( GPLv3 ). Together with Richard Stallman includes SFLC CEO Eben Moglen of the main authors. In August 2008, the SFLC published guidelines for dealing with the GPL. This practical advice in dealing with this license will be taught.

BusyBox

Between 2007 and 2009, the SFLC processed on behalf of two principal developers of BusyBox (Erik Andersen and Rob Landley ) against various manufacturers of electronic products. These were injuries to the second version of the GNU General Public License ( GPLv2 ).

  • 20 September 2007 - SFLC opened a lawsuit against the electronics manufacturer Monsoon Multimedia. Disclose the source program with the use of BusyBox in the Monsoon Multimedia HAVA product line and the simultaneous refusal violated the manufacturer the license terms of BusyBox. The two parties agreed to a settlement; the payment of an amount of compensation to the plaintiff and the additional promise of the manufacturer, the future comply with the license terms of the GPL.
  • 20 November 2007 - There was a lawsuit against Xterasys and High-Gain Antennas for infringement of the GNU General Public License. On 17 December 2007 SFLC procured thus a comparison between the complaining party and Xterasys in which the company stopped the delivery of other products until the time of subsequent delivery of the source code. On 6 March 2008 was followed by high-gain antennas with the same concession.
  • December 7, 2007 - A lawsuit against the company Verizon Communications due to license violations by the unlawful use of BusyBox was three months later also included. The plaintiffs parties agreed on a compensation payment and the concession of Verizon Communications to meet the licensing requirements in the future.
  • 10 June 2008 - SFLC opened a lawsuit against the company Bell Micro Products and Bell Micro Products Super Micro Computer.
  • 14 December 2009 - This was followed by the largest lawsuit against 14 electronics manufacturers. Among well-known manufacturers such as Best Buy, Samsung and Westinghouse.

Cisco Systems

On behalf of the Free Software Foundation, the SFLC sued in December 2008 Cisco Systems. The FSF accused the other party prior license violations in Linksys. Cisco did, despite the use of software that is licensed under the GPL, the source code is not passed the amended programs to its customers. This contradicts the basic principles of this licensing model. In May 2009, the two parties agreed out of court. Cisco was the FSF to an unknown sum. Furthermore, Cisco agreed to pursue the required measures in order to comply with the GPL stronger.

Board members

As of January 2012, the Executive Board of the SFLC consists of the following members:

  • Eben Moglen (Chair)
  • Philippe Aigrain
  • Diane M. Peters
  • Mark Webbink
Westinghouse Electric (1886)
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