The legal protection and use of open source computer programs

Zapraszam do lektury nadesłanej pracy magisterskiej, zatytułowanej "The legal protection and use of open source computer programs"

Central European University, Budapeszt - Węgry
Krzysztof Siewicz

The legal protection and use of open source computer programs

Praca napisana pod kierunkiem prof. György Boytha, Budapeszt - Węgry 2004.

Niniejszy dokument zawiera jedynie wybór z pracy. Cała praca znajduje się w pliku k_siewicz_oss_legal.pdf (ok. 635 Kb).

Uwagi dotyczące cytowania:
Krzysztof Siewicz, "The legal protection and use of open source computer programs" Budapeszt - Węgry 2004. http://www.vagla.pl
Odwiedź stronę autora: ksiewicz.net

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The paper deals with the question of the relation between Open Source computer programs and law on both the theoretical and practical level. The methodology used was to examine legal aspects of computer programs in general in order to estimate the specific issues triggered by Open Source Software in this area. Technical, economic and social aspects of software production were also analyzed. The research encompassed primary and secondary sources of law of the U.S. and EU, non-legal authoritative writings and consultations with experts.

The main areas discussed, in order of appearance, are the general means of protecting computer programs, the theoretical grounds for this system and the ways it is used in practice. Then, the history and some details of technical side of Open Source computer programs is presented together with the social and economic aspects of Open Source Movement. All this research is put together and the essence of the legal system designed by the movement is discussed against the background of general protection. In the end, this system is analyzed by confronting its institutes with the laws of particular jurisdictions.

The key finding of the paper is that the legal protection and use of Open Source computer programs form an innovative and remarkable system, which is in-line with the theory of intellectual property law even though its use of the law is the opposite of the trend known as "proprietary licensing". Although most of the Open Source legal innovations are generally valid and enforceable, much depends on the interpretation given in particular jurisdictions. The finding of the detailed analysis is that there is a need of more diligence in arranging legal relationships between parties involved in the creation and use of Open Source Software.

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Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (1886, Paris Act of 1971)
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European Patent Convention (1973)
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Other Legal Documents

Apache License Version 2.0, available at: http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
BSD License, available at: http://www.xfree86.org/3.3.6/COPYRIGHT2.html
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TABLE OF CASES

American Cases Adobe Systems, Inc. v. One Stop Micro, Inc. 84 F. Supp.2d 1086 (N.D. Cal. 2000).
Apple Computer, Inc. v. Franklin Computer Corp.714 F.2d 1240 (3d Cir.1983), cert. dismissed 464 U.S. 1033 (1984).
Architectonics, Inc. v. Control Systems, Inc.935 F. Supp. 425 (S.D. N.Y. 1996).
Berthold Types Ltd. v. Adobe Systems, Inc. 101 F. Supp.2d 697 (E.D. Ill 2000).
Brown Bag Software, Inc. v. Symanthec Corp.960 F 2d 1465 (9th Cir 1992).
Caspi v. Microsoft Network L.L.C. 732 A.2d 528 (N.J. Super Ct. App. Div. 1999), cert. denied, 743 A.2d. 851 (1999).
CMS Software Design Sys., Inc. v. Info Designs, Inc.785 F.2d 1246 (5th Cir.1986).
Computer Associates, Inc. v. Altai, Inc.982 F.2d 693 (2nd Cir 1992).
EF Cultural Travel BV v. Zefer Corp. 2003 U.S. App. LEXIS 1336 (1st Cir. 2003). Hines v. Davidowitz, 312 U.S. 52, 67 (1941).
Hotmail Corp. v. Van$ Money Pie, Inc. 47 U.S.P.Q.2d 1020 (N.D. Cal 1998).
I.LAN Systems, Inc. v. Netscout Service Level Corp.183 F.Supp.2d 328 (D. Mass. 2002).
Lasercomb America, Inc. v. Reynolds 911 F.2d 970 (4th Cir. 1990).
Lotus Development Corp. v. Paperback Software Int.740 F. Supp. 37 (D. Mass. 1990).
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Novell, Inc. v. Network Trade Center, Inc. 25 F. Supp. 2d 1218 (D. Utah 1997).
Planetary Motion, Inc. v. Techsplosion, Inc.261 F.3d 1188 (11th Circ. (Fla.), 2001).
ProCD, Inc. v. Zeidenberg F.3d 1447 (7th Cir. 1996).
Progress Software Corp. v. MySQL AB195 F. Supp. 2d 328 (D. Mass. 2002).
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SCO Group, Inc., The v. International Business Machines, No. 2:03cv0294 (Plaintiff's Amended Complaint) (D. Utah, filed June 16, 2003).
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Step-Saver Data Sys., Inc. v. Wyse Tech.939 F.2d 91 (3d Cir. 1991).
Storm Impact, Inc. v. Software of the Month Club, 13 F.Supp. 2d 782 (N.D. Ill. 1998).
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Williams Electronics, Inc. v. Artic International, Inc.685 F.2d 870 (3d Cir. 1982).

German Case
Landgericht München, 19.5.2004, 21 O 6123/04.

European Patent Office
International Business Machines, Corp./Computer program product, Decision of Technical Board of Appeal 3.5.1 dated 1 July 1998, T 1173/97 (OJ 10/1999, 609)