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Lawyer is an interesting word. Loaded, in fact to most engineers. I used to run open source licensing while helping to build code.google.com (I helped write Sub

Lawyer is an interesting word. Loaded, in fact to most engineers. I used to run open source licensing while helping to build code.google.com (I helped write Subversion back in the day, and built significant parts of code.google.com). These days, I still help out running open source licensing and compliance at a high level, but have just about handed all of it off to very good people who take care of it. I still get involved in M&A, policy issues, large or complex fires, etc. Even that is slowing down as people become more and more experienced. Which is great[1] Now I spend most of my time running the C++ language teams (compiler/toolchains/core libraries/etc). So, lawyer wise, these days, if they directly ask me for help, usually it means something has gone wrong. [1] Truthfully, there are not enough really good open source lawyer types who actually understand the interplay of actual engineering and open source really well. The more i can help create, the better.

rosser 10y ago
That path — pursuing a JD toward the end of helping open source projects — has appealed very strongly to me on and off over many years, but I've always been dubious it's something sustainable. Neither law school, nor living in areas where you'd probably need to, in order to have access to the most relevant courts and highest densities of potential clients are cheap. I'm sure the occasional settlement wrung out of non-compliant companies or whatever would help, but I'm also pretty sure "occasional" is very much the operative word there. I'm really glad to hear it's more of a thing than I'd thought it was, though I will admit to some skepticism that working for someone like Google or whomever wouldn't somehow subtly taint one's motivations and efforts towards their goals, rather than what's best for Open Source writ large. Then again, I was recently reminded of the Chade-Meng Tan quote about doing "what's best for the world," and then "wait[ing] to get fired," so maybe my cynicism isn't entirely warranted here, at least in the specific.
- DannyBee 10y ago
  What do you want to help them with, precisely? Most open source legal work is in companies. "Neither law school, nor living in areas where you'd probably need to, in order to have access to the most relevant courts and highest densities of potential clients are cheap. " It's definitely not worth it for the money. I did it, originally, because it became clear to me at a young age that patents were going to destroy the software industry, and that the average engineer was just going to sit around and complain on usenet (now hacker news i guess) about it :P When i joined google, i actually spent a long ass time fighting for patent reform, too. But it got too lonely (google was often the only one fighting the good fight and the other side gets very good at smearing, etc), and after many years, you also have to survive. But the second you do, you become the villain. People want absolutes. "I'm sure the occasional settlement wrung out of non-compliant companies or whatever would help, but I'm also pretty sure "occasional" is very much the operative word there. " The problem here is that the damages are not likely to pay for the lawsuit in most cases. Sad, but true. "I'm really glad to hear it's more of a thing than I'd thought it was, though I will admit to some skepticism that working for someone like Google or whomever wouldn't somehow subtly taint one's motivations and efforts towards their goals, rather than what's best for Open Source writ large. " Actually, watching and participating in the politics of GCC did that long before i ever joined google :P. The truth is always in between. Nobody is completely altruistic, nobody is completely self-interested. At the same time, when i train new googlers, we explicitly tell them we comply with licenses mainly because it's the right damn thing to do. And we believe it.
  - rosser 10y ago
    > What do you want to help them with, precisely? Primarily ensuring license compliance, but also things like trademarks or patents as needed. Really, whatever moves the broader cause of Free/Open Source Software forward. > Actually, watching and participating in the politics of GCC did that long before i ever joined google :P. Fair point. :| Thanks for taking the time to address my thoughts and concerns. It truly is appreciated.
hendzen 10y ago
Wow! This sounds like a very interesting role. Congratulations on being accomplished in both law and technology.

rosser 10y ago

That path — pursuing a JD toward the end of helping open source projects — has appealed very strongly to me on and off over many years, but I've always been dubious it's something sustainable. Neither law school, nor living in areas where you'd probably need to, in order to have access to the most relevant courts and highest densities of potential clients are cheap. I'm sure the occasional settlement wrung out of non-compliant companies or whatever would help, but I'm also pretty sure "occasional" is very much the operative word there. I'm really glad to hear it's more of a thing than I'd thought it was, though I will admit to some skepticism that working for someone like Google or whomever wouldn't somehow subtly taint one's motivations and efforts towards their goals, rather than what's best for Open Source writ large. Then again, I was recently reminded of the Chade-Meng Tan quote about doing "what's best for the world," and then "wait[ing] to get fired," so maybe my cynicism isn't entirely warranted here, at least in the specific.

DannyBee 10y ago
What do you want to help them with, precisely? Most open source legal work is in companies. "Neither law school, nor living in areas where you'd probably need to, in order to have access to the most relevant courts and highest densities of potential clients are cheap. " It's definitely not worth it for the money. I did it, originally, because it became clear to me at a young age that patents were going to destroy the software industry, and that the average engineer was just going to sit around and complain on usenet (now hacker news i guess) about it :P When i joined google, i actually spent a long ass time fighting for patent reform, too. But it got too lonely (google was often the only one fighting the good fight and the other side gets very good at smearing, etc), and after many years, you also have to survive. But the second you do, you become the villain. People want absolutes. "I'm sure the occasional settlement wrung out of non-compliant companies or whatever would help, but I'm also pretty sure "occasional" is very much the operative word there. " The problem here is that the damages are not likely to pay for the lawsuit in most cases. Sad, but true. "I'm really glad to hear it's more of a thing than I'd thought it was, though I will admit to some skepticism that working for someone like Google or whomever wouldn't somehow subtly taint one's motivations and efforts towards their goals, rather than what's best for Open Source writ large. " Actually, watching and participating in the politics of GCC did that long before i ever joined google :P. The truth is always in between. Nobody is completely altruistic, nobody is completely self-interested. At the same time, when i train new googlers, we explicitly tell them we comply with licenses mainly because it's the right damn thing to do. And we believe it.
- rosser 10y ago
  > What do you want to help them with, precisely? Primarily ensuring license compliance, but also things like trademarks or patents as needed. Really, whatever moves the broader cause of Free/Open Source Software forward. > Actually, watching and participating in the politics of GCC did that long before i ever joined google :P. Fair point. :| Thanks for taking the time to address my thoughts and concerns. It truly is appreciated.

hendzen 10y ago

Wow! This sounds like a very interesting role. Congratulations on being accomplished in both law and technology.