Blog - Page 7
Legal articles in easy to understand language.
The GPL Enforcement Landscape: Lessons from Recent Lawsuits
The GNU General Public License (GPL) is an open-source software license that allows software to be shared, modified, and used in a non-proprietary way. Free and open-source software licenses have been successfully enforced around the world. Lawsuits and other enforcement actions are an important part of protecting open-source software licenses and...
Dual Licensing vs. Open Core: Legal Distinctions Every Business Should Understand
Building a sustainable business around open source software is a balancing act. You want the massive community adoption and collaborative power that comes with an open license, but you also need a clear path to generating revenue. Dual licensing and open core are two popular license models businesses use to square...
The Legal Risks of "Source-Available" Licenses: SSPL, BSL, and Beyond
Source-available licenses allow developers to read and modify a software's source code, but they also impose restrictions on how the software can be used, which disqualify them as true open-source licenses. Companies typically adopt source-available license models to stop cloud providers from reselling their work without contributing back meaningfully. And while...
How to Handle California Consumer Data Requests (CCPA Rights Management)
To handle data requests in accordance with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), your business needs clear internal procedures, verified request channels, and documented proof that it has complied with the 45-day response deadline. The CCPA gives California residents five enforceable consumer rights, and your business must be able to receive,...
Contributor License Agreements (CLAs): Friend, Foe, or Necessary Evil?
Contributor License Agreements (CLAs) are a type of licensing agreement that governs how people contribute to open-source software or developments. They can help intellectual property rights between developers and distributors to be clarified, and can ensure that contributed content is clearly licensed. However, they can also leave developers vulnerable to further...
The Rise of Class Actions in Data Protection: What Companies Should Expect
Class action lawsuits are on the rise, and laws such as the European Union's (EU) Directive 2020/1828 make it easier for consumers to bring collective action against companies that breach EU privacy and data protection laws. This article explains what data protection class actions are, the role of Directive 2020/1828, common...