Class 1: Introduction to Open Source Software and Copyleft
The Free Software Definition
What is copyleft?
Debian Free Software Guidelines
Richard Stallman, The GNU Project
James Boyle & Richard Epstein’s Debate on Open Source
Class 2: Basic Open Source Licenses
O’Reilly, Understanding Open Source & Free Software Licensing, pp.1–81, 114–120
Review GPL, LGPL, MPL, MIT, BSD, Apache, and Academic Freedom Licenses
Class 3: Conceptualizing and Enforcing the GPL
Sapna Kumar, Enforcing the GNU GPL, 2006 U. of Ill. J. L., Tech. & Policy 1
Jason B. Wacha, Taking the Case: Is the GPL Enforceable?, 21 Santa Clara Computer & High Tech. L.J. 451
Mitchell L. Stoltz, The Penguin Paradox: How the Scope of Derivative Works in Copyright Affects the Effectiveness of the GNU GPL, 85 B.U. L. Rev. 1439 (2005)
Class 4: Open Source Litigation
Welte v. Sitecom Deutschland GmbH, No. 21 O 6123/04 (Dist. Ct. of Munich 2004),
Welte v. D-Link Germany GmbH (Dist. Ct. of Frankfurt Am Main 2006)
Andrew LaFontaine, Adventures in Software Licensing: SCO v. IBM and the Future of the Open Source Model, 4 J. on Telecomm. & High Tech. L. 449
SCO Filings , read: the argument section of document 794, SCO's memo. in support of its motion for SJ on IBM's 6th, 7th, and 8th Counterclaim, and the argument section of document 881, (IBM's redacted memo. in opposition to SCO's motion for SJ on IBM's 6th, 7th, and 8th Counter Claim.
Briefly review SCO Timeline
Class 5: Introduction to the Economics of OSS
Ronald Coase, The Nature of the Firm, Economica (Nov. 1937) (optional)
David McGowan, Legal Implications of Open-Source Software, 2001 U. Ill. L. Rev. 241
Class 6 : The Role of OSS in Proprietary Business Models, Part 1
Bruce Perens, The Emerging Economic Paradigm of Open Source,
John Koenig, Seven Open Source Business Strategies for Competitive Advantageh
Ronald Mann, The Commercialization of Open Source Software: Do Property Rights Still Matter? 20 Harv. J. L. Tech. (forthcoming)
Class 7: The Role of OSS in Proprietary Business Models, Part2
Guest Speaker: Mark Webbink
Red Hat Subscription Agreement
Review GPL v.2 and bring a copy to class
Pamela Samuelson, IBM's pragmatic embrace of open source
Stephen Shankland, Microsoft patent peace-or patent war?
Tom Sanders, Novell Microsoft partnership faces GPL hurdle,
Microsoft at the Power Point, The Economist (9/11/03)
Class 8: OSS in Developing Nations
For $150, Third-World Laptop Stirs a Big Debate, NY Times (Nov. 30, 2006)
Steve Weber, Open-Source in Developing Economies,
FOSS policy in Africa: A toolkit for policy makers and practitioners,
Class 9: Open Source Worlds: Virtual Worlds and Virtual Economies
Second Life Goes Open Source,
Virtual Property Rights Are No Game
Sarah Grimes, Online multiplayer games: a virtual space for intellectual property debates?
Jack Balkin, Virtual Liberty, 90 Va. L. Rev. 2043
Class 10 : Biotechnology and Open-Source
Boettiger, Sara and Burk, Dan L., “Open Source Patenting” , J. of Int. Biotech. Law, Vol. 1, pp. 221-231, http://ssrn.com/abstract=645182
Arti Rai, Open and Collaborative Research: A New Model for Biomedicine
Maurer, Rai, Sali Finding Cures for Tropical Diseases: Is Open Source the Answer?
Class 11: Openness and Patent Reform
Richard Koman, U.S. Patent Reform Bill: An Interview with Mark Webbink, http://www.oreillynet.com/lpt/a/6197
Matthew Broersma, Stallman: OSDL patent project “worse than nothing”
Beth Noveck, Peer to Patent: Collective Intelligence, Open Review and Patent Reform , 20 Harv. J. L. & Tech. 123 (2006)
Class 12: Creative Commons
Read Meet the Licenses, and click on “View Legal Code” for the different options to see the different options in the license.
Severine Dusollier, Master's Tools v. The Master's House: Creative Commons v. Copyright, 29 Colum. J.L. & Arts 271 (2006)
Lydia Pallas Loren, Building a Reliable Semicommons of Creative Works, 14 Geo. Mason L. Rev. 271 (2007)
Class 13: The Future of Open Source
Draft 2 of GPL v.3
More readings to be announced