Re: [Ksummit-discuss] [CORE TOPIC] GPL defense issues

[Josh Triplett <josh@joshtriplett.org>]

On Wed, Aug 24, 2016 at 10:25:38AM -0400, Karen Sandler wrote:
> On Wed, 2016-08-24 at 09:08 -0400, Greg KH wrote:
> > On Wed, Aug 24, 2016 at 01:30:00AM -0400, Karen Sandler wrote:
> > > 
> > > There have been so many discussions about these topics by industry lawyers
> > > and executives behind closed doors, but developers have been generally
> > > kept out of the loop.
> > 
> > That's a very unfair comparison, "lawyers and executives" always are
> > "behind closed doors" as that's the way business works (and has to for
> > legal reasons as you know).  One can say the same thing about any type
> > of company meeting where anything is discussed.
> > 
> > And "developers" are not being kept out of any "loop" here, please, lots
> > of us know exactly what is going on here.
> 
> I'm of course not talking about internal company meetings, but rather
> invite-only backchannels where lawyers and executives are invited but
> developers are typically not.  I know, Greg, that you and a few other
> developers do cross between these worlds, but most Linux developers I've
> spoken to do not.  This session is an opportunity for those developers
> to hear about what's been going on in the last year.

Personally, I've seen numerous examples of people not having heard any
of the background on these issues.  I'd love to see this topic covered
far and wide.  Not everyone gets to go to LLW or similar, or otherwise
has access to much of the information about such topics.

The session in a past Kernel Summit providing timely information on the
ongoing court case seemed quite popular.

I think a session providing information on current legal issues and
discussing implications of them seems quite relevant, as well as fitting
the criteria of "something that doesn't work as a mailing list
discussion".  *Especially* if the session includes discussion of
practical implications and practices.

Linux has pioneered many best-practices, such as the DCO.  By both
interest and necessity, we have to deal with issues like these.  Let's
talk about them, and start trying to find solutions for the next round
of issues.

- Josh Triplett