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| Mark Webbink Joins Board of Software Freedom Law Center |
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Wednesday, October 10 2007 @ 10:04 AM EDT
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This is good news, that Mark Webbink has joined the board of the Software Freedom Law Center. Good news for the FOSS community. For him, I think the idea of a laid back, restful retirement is now just a dream.
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Mark Webbink Joins Board of Software Freedom Law Center - Software Freedom Law Center
Distinguished Free Software Lawyer to Advise Nonprofit Law Firm
The Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC),
provider of pro-bono legal services to protect and advance Free and
Open Source Software (FOSS), today announced that Mark Webbink has
joined its board of directors.
Webbink comes to SFLC from Red Hat, the premiere Linux and open source
vendor, where he served as its first general counsel beginning in
2000. In 2004, he became Red Hat's deputy general counsel for
intellectual property, a position he served in until his retirement in
August 2007. During his tenure with Red Hat, Webbink wrote and spoke
extensively on the subjects of open source software, software patents,
and patent reform.
Webbink is a Senior Lecturing Fellow with the Duke University School
of Law and consults with open source companies on their business
strategies. He holds a BA from Purdue University as well as a Master
of Public Administration and J.D. from the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill.
"During my time at Red Hat, I came to understand that open source
developers perform their best work when sound legal advice is
available to them," said Webbink. "I look forward to working with an
organization that provides this essential role to the Free and Open
Source Software community."
"Mark brings his exceptional experience and knowledge of FOSS
licensing and the enterprise marketplace to the SFLC at a critical
time in the software industry," said Eben Moglen, founding director of
SFLC. "I am grateful to Mark for putting his wisdom at the service of
our clients, for the good of everyone who makes, distributes or uses
free software."
Webbink will be introduced at SFLC's first annual Legal Summit for
Software Freedom at Columbia Law School in New York on Friday, October
12th.
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| Authored by: JamesK on Wednesday, October 10 2007 @ 10:11 AM EDT |
Not that PJ makes mistakes. ;-)
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There are 10 kinds of people, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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| Authored by: JamesK on Wednesday, October 10 2007 @ 10:12 AM EDT |
Please include title.
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There are 10 kinds of people, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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| Authored by: JamesK on Wednesday, October 10 2007 @ 10:14 AM EDT |
Don`t forget links.
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There are 10 kinds of people, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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- I got all three again. - Authored by: JamesK on Wednesday, October 10 2007 @ 10:15 AM EDT
- OT: Take that, Judge Kimball - Authored by: Peter H. Salus on Wednesday, October 10 2007 @ 10:18 AM EDT
- Microsoft Scrambling to Explain Ballmer Comment on Red Hat Linux - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, October 10 2007 @ 10:47 AM EDT
- Novell: SCO, We Want Our Money - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, October 10 2007 @ 10:57 AM EDT
- RIAA vs World, a musicians view... - Authored by: LocoYokel on Wednesday, October 10 2007 @ 11:58 AM EDT
- Juror: 'We Wanted to Send a Message' - Capitol Records v. Thomas - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, October 10 2007 @ 12:06 PM EDT
- SCO Stock - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, October 10 2007 @ 01:07 PM EDT
- SCO Stock - Authored by: JamesK on Wednesday, October 10 2007 @ 01:48 PM EDT
- SCO Stock - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, October 10 2007 @ 07:58 PM EDT
- SCO HipCheck - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, October 10 2007 @ 01:42 PM EDT
- Lawmaker blasts U.K. on M$ policy - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, October 10 2007 @ 02:40 PM EDT
- Promoting Linux driver development - Authored by: bbaston on Wednesday, October 10 2007 @ 02:54 PM EDT
- MS running the word innovation into the ground - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, October 10 2007 @ 03:10 PM EDT
- Off topic here - Thomas RIAA Case - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, October 10 2007 @ 04:43 PM EDT
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| Authored by: Observer on Wednesday, October 10 2007 @ 05:50 PM EDT |
| quote: "... open source developers perform their best work when sound legal
advice is available to them,"
That, and when they have sharp people
looking after the legal aspects of their development, so they can concentrate on
what they do best -- being creative. Personally, while I love reading stuff
here, I don't want to have to think about the legal ramifications when
I'm building something. My thanks to all the lawyers who are involved in FOSS,
doing their best to knock the obstacles, road blocks and pitfalls out of the way
of the developers.
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The Observer [ Reply to This | # ]
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| Authored by: grouch on Wednesday, October 10 2007 @ 08:03 PM EDT |
For him, I think the idea of a laid back, restful retirement is
now just a dream.
I don't know whether to congratulate him or
send condolences, but I'm glad he's on 'our side'! Software development would be
tough enough without the minefields of various laws in the world. It's good to
know Mr. Webbink will be adding his expertise and considerable experience to the
SFLC.
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-- grouch
"People aren't as dumb as Microsoft needs them to be."
--PJ, May 2007
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| Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, October 11 2007 @ 08:30 AM EDT |
I think you guys are taking it too complex (which makes sense from a US-centric
point of view).
I guess the reason is a lot simpler: MS does not want to clear the comments
because that would get them into legal trouble in the EU.
See, as in most of EU pure software patents are illegal, if MS recognizes that
Ballmer's statement refers to software patents it would amount to MS using
illegal threats to customers which would open them to all sort of attacks.
So, once it has been said they better not clear things up or they may get into
trouble. More so just after a confirmation of their indictment as abusive
monopolists.
Witness the result of e.g. SCO in Germany after they started bullying the same
way and got sued for making unsupported threats. Only MS has a lot more to
lose.
Even if it is not software patents they have already got into trouble waters by
making an unsupported threat. They risk consumer organizations raging against
them all over for bully/extortion practices.
j
--
Jose R. Valverde
EMBnet/CNB
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| Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, October 16 2007 @ 05:53 PM EDT |
The press release, unfortunately, got his credentials wrong. His law degree is
from North Carolina Central University, not University of North Carolina. If I
recall correctly, he went to night law school for 4 years while working during
the day.
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