Publications
The Linux Kernel, CDDL and Related Issues
This document explains licensing issues as they relate to the Linux Kernel and CDDL-licensed code.
SFLC's Guide to GPL Compliance
2nd Edition
How to read, understand, and comply with the provisions of the GNU GPL family of free software licenses, including a discussion of the relation of governance to compliance, and practical advice about responding to inquiries or compliance complaints from copyright holders.
SFLC's Legal Issues Primer
The Software Freedom Law Center publishes a primer for free, libre, and open source software developers seeking to understand the legal implications of community development and distribution of software.
Other Publications
软件自由法律中心 GPL 软件许可证合规指导
SFLC's Guide to GPL Compliance
2nd Edition, Chinese translation
本文档解释了如何阅读、理解、并遵循GNU GPL 自由软件法律,包括有关法律授权 的监管和对拥有版权者提供咨询和实用的建议。
This is the official Chinese translation of SFLC's Guide to GPL Compliance, 2nd Edition.
SFLC's Guide to GPL Compliance
2nd Edition
Managing Copyright Information within a Free Software Project
Government Computer Software Acquisition and The GNU General Public License
Community Distribution Patent Policy FAQ
Killed by Code: Software Transparency in Implantable Medical Devices
A Practical Guide to GPL Compliance
How to comply effectively with the GNU General Public License (GPL) and related licenses.
Shareware Redistribution of FOSS Software
How and when commercial redistribution of FOSS violates common FOSS licenses, and development techniques to make enforcement easier.
Maintaining Permissive-Licensed Files in a GPL-Licensed Project: Guidelines for Developers
Ensuring compliance and enabling code-sharing when incorporating permissive-licensed code into a GPL codebase.
FCC Rules on FOSS and Software-Defined Radio
New rules tentatively encourage the use of FOSS by SDR manufacturers.
Sarbanes-Oxley and the GPL: No Special Risk
Sarbanes-Oxley does not increase risk for developers of GPL'd software.
Comments on FCC Rules Regulating End-User Software Modification
A History of the GPLv3 Revision Process
Oracle/Sun EC Opinion
Eben Moglen's opinion to the European Commission on the competitive effects of the Oracle's acquisition of Sun.
Request to Appear at European Commission's Oracle/Hearing
Eben Moglen's request to appear before the European Commission regarding Oracle's acquisition of Sun.
Microsoft's Open Specification Promise: No Assurance for GPL
It is unsafe to rely upon the OSP for any free software implementation, whether under the GPL or another free software license.
Code Analysis of the Linux Wireless Team's ath5k Driver
SFLC's conclusions regading the copyright status of the ath5k driver code.
Originality Requirements under U.S. and E.U. Copyright Law
A discussion of the requirements for software to be considered within the scope of copyright under U.S. and E.U law.
Windows vs. Linux: The Patent Tax
The hidden patent tax built into the license fees for Microsoft Windows.
OpenDocument Opinion Letter
The OASIS ODF standard is free of legal encumbrances that would prevent its use in free and open source software.
Resource page: Bilski v. Kappos
Background material and links regarding the Supreme Court case Bilski v. Kappos
Resource page: Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank
Background material and links regarding the Supreme Court case Alice v. Kappos
Google, Inc. v. Oracle America
SFLC's amicus brief before the Supreme Court in Google, Inc. v. Oracle America. SFLC and FSF take the position that the decision below is wrong, but that certiorari should not be granted for three reasons: (1) the decision of the Federal Circuit merely mispredicts what the Ninth Circuit would do if it had been the Court resolving Oracle's appeal from the District Court's finding that the application program interface declarations at issue are non-copyrightable; (2) the decision rests on narrow factual grounds; and (3) there is no public interest in continuing to adjudicate this dispute because Google can now and could have used all material at issue under the terms of the GNU GPL v2.
Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank
SFLC's amicus brief before the Supreme Court in Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank arguing that the "machine or transformation" inquiry employed by the Court in Bilski v. Kappos is the correct, and exclusive, bright line test for patent eligibility of computer-implemented inventions.
Global-Tech v. SEB
SFLC's amicus brief before the Supreme Court arguing against the Federal Circuit's expansion of secondary liability for patent infringement.
Bilski v. Kappos
SFLC's amicus brief before the Supreme Court arguing against extending patent coverage to abstract ideas embedded in software.
Jacobsen v. Katzer
SFLC's amicus brief before the Federal Circuit arguing that FOSS developers should be able to enjoin infringing distributions of their software.
Microsoft v. AT&T
SFLC's amicus brief before the Supreme Court arguing that software can not be a component of a patented invention because software is not patentable subject matter.