Open Source Stack Exchange
Open Source Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [law]

For questions about the legal aspects of open source. Questions asking for legal advice are off-topic. You should consider mentioning the relevant legal jurisdiction in your question.

177 questions
21
votes
4 answers

Hypothetical conflict - incorrectly licensed code

There's a scenario that's been rattling around in my brain for a while. Consider the following example. Josh, at Widgets Tech, goes to the internet and finds some code (GizmoLibrary) licensed MIT, and uses it in their code. A year or two go by, and…
Erhannis
  • 313
  • 2
  • 5
9
votes
2 answers

Can Heartbleed have legal implications?

The Heartbleed-bug of the software OpenSSL was a security-nightmare for IT around the world. We already know the bug was caused by a patch from a german programmer named Robin Seggelmann. While he surely didn't intend it and is probably very sorry…
Mnementh
  • 11,189
  • 2
  • 35
  • 79
5
votes
1 answer

Legality of publishing code for a stackoverflow answer as an example implementation

Consider this scenario: I was trying to implement my own version of some awkward functionality. The same functionality is implemented in at least one open source library (which allows copying). My code is written from scratch and not derived from…
Bruce Adams
  • 560
  • 2
  • 11
4
votes
1 answer

Legal Status of SPDX Headers

My first ever question... Within the (excellent) GNURadio Project the source code (example here) generally features a header declaring the copyright holder, the project that the file is part of and an SPDX line pointing to the GPL3. The project…
bazza
  • 141
  • 3
4
votes
2 answers

Is the applicability of Open Source Software Licenses the same in all countries?

I am referring to open source software used in commercial products sold in different countries. Is fulfilling the license obligations described in the license text enough or there are also local laws that must be taken in consideration ? LE: I guess…
ossx
  • 655
  • 5
  • 16
4
votes
3 answers

Right to launch an application with FOSS license

According to Berne convention no one can copy / reproduce materials unless an author granted permissions. I thought that "open" licenses open copying / composition / distribution among compatible licenses relying on copiright law. But some EULAs…
gavenkoa
  • 151
  • 8
4
votes
3 answers

Is it legal to use/run open source software for any purpose?

I am planning to be a Udemy instructor to make money. As you predict, I need softwares such as OS, Hypervisor, IDE, web browser, screen video recorder, etc. That's why, I'll use/run open source softwares for the courses I'll prepare to not…
arastirma hesap
  • 21
  • 7
1
vote
2 answers

Use of open-source by “bad people”

I have two questions regarding the implications of releasing something open-source and it later being used by "bad people" (terrorists, authoritarian regimes, and so on). The first is about the legal consequences and the second is about what free…
Ken Grimes
  • 119
  • 2
1
vote
1 answer

Helvetica Neue font in iOS 14 App

Some times ago I've received a legal issue from monotype.com. They told that I was using font Helvetica Neue in my iOS app since 2015 to 2020 and now I need to pay for this font for all these years. I was shocked by that. I thought that this font is…
eltray
  • 113
  • 2
0
votes
2 answers

Technically possible to prohibit closed source drivers with Linux?

Would it be technically (legally) possible for the Linux kernel developers to create a new license (similar to GPLv2) but different in the sense that hardware manufacturers are prohibited from distributing future versions of the Linux kernel with…
Josh
  • 21
  • 1