3 ms·

In what kind of a scenario would this happen?

by evan_ 13y ago

angersock 13y ago
I suspect none, honestly, but it sounds scary, doesn't it? Everybody who does software would prefer a better, less legally climate, and yet few seem willing to put skin in the game. A better question is this: since we seem hellbent on not having any sort of accredited professional status, why are we surprised that this is an issue?
- DannyBee 13y ago
  You suspect none? Tell this to the java model railroad guy. A single person who never expected to be sued over open source model railroad software. He in fact, spent over 100k on the defense, AFAIK, and it did in fact cause him serious financial hardship. This is despite the fact that his lawyer (a wonderful woman) was doing the best she could to keep his costs down.
  - angersock 13y ago
    This: Jacobsen v. Katzer ? You know, I was expecting to be really really sad reading that. Like, I pictured a really nice old dude with a big white bushy beard and conductor's overalls and a blue hat crying as he had to sell off his pike to pay legal fees against some overzealous corporate lawyer, only to pass away a few weeks later from diabetes (his now-grown children laying in his coffin the one train car that escaped the lawsuit-caused liquidation of assets, a reminder of better times). Instead, I found a tale of people being assholes to each other over copyright and patents and cybersquatting--further evidence that we should re-examine all those things. Again, so happy to be wrong.
    - DannyBee 13y ago
      You must have read a different case than I did.
      - iso8859-1 13y ago
        How is your case identified?
        DannyBee 13y ago
        It is the same case, but I know the details personally for various reasons, and it is not as he describes.
        angersock 13y ago
        I was going off of the wikipedia article--I'm sorry if I am misinformed. I make no claims that a wiki is anything more than a useful first-step onto the path of knowledge.
DannyBee 13y ago
Any one in which you got sued? The average lawsuit of this type, win or lose, is going to cost you 75-100k if it goes to court, minimum. That assumes it doesn't drag on, etc.

In what kind of a scenario would this happen?

by evan_ 13y ago

In what kind of a scenario would this happen?

I suspect none, honestly, but it sounds scary, doesn't it? Everybody who does software would prefer a better, less legally climate, and yet few seem willing to put skin in the game. A better question is this: since we seem hellbent on not having any sort of accredited professional status, why are we surprised that this is an issue?

DannyBee 13y ago
You suspect none? Tell this to the java model railroad guy. A single person who never expected to be sued over open source model railroad software. He in fact, spent over 100k on the defense, AFAIK, and it did in fact cause him serious financial hardship. This is despite the fact that his lawyer (a wonderful woman) was doing the best she could to keep his costs down.
- angersock 13y ago
  This: Jacobsen v. Katzer ? You know, I was expecting to be really really sad reading that. Like, I pictured a really nice old dude with a big white bushy beard and conductor's overalls and a blue hat crying as he had to sell off his pike to pay legal fees against some overzealous corporate lawyer, only to pass away a few weeks later from diabetes (his now-grown children laying in his coffin the one train car that escaped the lawsuit-caused liquidation of assets, a reminder of better times). Instead, I found a tale of people being assholes to each other over copyright and patents and cybersquatting--further evidence that we should re-examine all those things. Again, so happy to be wrong.
  - DannyBee 13y ago
    You must have read a different case than I did.
    - iso8859-1 13y ago
      How is your case identified?
      - DannyBee 13y ago
        It is the same case, but I know the details personally for various reasons, and it is not as he describes.
        angersock 13y ago
        I was going off of the wikipedia article--I'm sorry if I am misinformed. I make no claims that a wiki is anything more than a useful first-step onto the path of knowledge.

DannyBee 13y ago

Any one in which you got sued? The average lawsuit of this type, win or lose, is going to cost you 75-100k if it goes to court, minimum. That assumes it doesn't drag on, etc.