Understanding FOSS licenses (without a lawyer)

Audience:
Topic:

Free and Open Source licenses are a key part of how FOSS works, but most of us do not fully understand how (or why) they work. After reviewing over 350 FOSS licenses for Fedora (over the course of 10 years), I've seen almost everything and can share my wisdom with you. In this talk, I'll cover the commonly used FOSS licenses, describe how they work, and even point out some of the unique licenses on the fringe of our universe. Bonus: I've been reading Legalese for years (as a non-lawyer who regularly works with lawyers at Red Hat), so I can translate licenses back to English.

I will also cover:

  • the fundamentals of copyrights, trademarks, and patents
  • Public Domain
  • FOSS licenses for non-software works
  • Multiple license scenarios
  • How to choose the right license for you
  • Why you should never, ever, ever write your own license
Room:
Century CD
Time:
Saturday, February 21, 2015 - 18:00 to 19:00