Copyright, Licensing & Open Licenses (LAW-795CD-E001)
Michael Carroll
Meets: 02:00 PM - 04:30 PM (TuWThF)
Enrolled: 15 / Limit: 22
Notices
All summer 2020 classes will be taught online. Classes may have a combination of live sessions and asynchronous materials/assignments. The block of time listed here will be the maximum amount of live session meeting time expected of you and may be decreased to the extent of asynchronous material added.
Description
This class focuses on the interaction between copyright law and standardized open copyright licenses, particularly open source software licenses and Creative Commons licenses. Significant amounts of commercial software are “open source,” meaning that the code comes with a copyright license that permits free copying and modification subject to certain conditions. Examples include the Firefox and Chrome web browsers, the Android operating system, and many programs that operate web servers. There also are more than 1 billion works of authorship – such as open educational resources – available on the Internet under one of the Creative Commons licenses. Attorneys increasingly are being called upon to help clients understand, interpret and comply with these licenses. This class is open to all: No prior experience with copyright or the technical aspects of software is required. Assessment is by a two-hour take-home examination. The course will cover the following: Class 1: The basics of copyright licensing Class 2: A basic understanding of copyright in software and introduction to free and open source licensing, including the case law. Class 3: Comparing the important terms in the major open source licenses, including the GNU GPL’s “copyleft” or “viral” licensing condition Class 4: Creative Commons licenses and their interpretation by the court.
Textbooks and Other Materials
The textbook information on this page was provided by the instructor. Students should use this information when considering purchases from the AU Campus Store or other vendors. Students may check to determine if books are currently available for purchase online.
Readings will be posted on MyWCL.
First Class Readings
Not available at this time.