4 ms·

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 dub

by 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.

by rosser 10y ago

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.