Legal Summits to Tackle Linux

An anonymous reader writes "BuilderAU has the story that the Linux Foundation, custodians of the Linux trademark, have announced that they will host two summits to deal with legal issues surrounding Linux and open-source software. Attendance at the first summit will be restricted to members of the Linux Foundation and their legal counsel. The second summit — an open meeting — will be held in Autumn 2008 where legal experts from any background will be able to attend."

Comments

Invite the Slashdot crowd

[Chapter80]

Open Source summits, great! I imagine that the most frequently heard phrase at the summits will be "IANAL,..."

Re:Invite the Slashdot crowd

[Nerdfest]

There will however, be lots of real lawyers there. I understand the logo for the summit features a penguin shaking hands with a weasel.

Re:Invite the Slashdot crowd

[crimperman]

I understand the logo for the summit features a penguin shaking hands with a weasel.

An iceweasel by any chance?

Re:The foundation owns only the trademark

[Anonymous Coward]

Trademark violations of Linux are few, and insignificant. Linus himself seems to be against the spirit of the GPL - either version 2 or 3. Had he chosen the BSD, MS would've swallowed it like Kerberos or the TCP/IP stack and bastardised them, and Linux would've been kicked dead before it started breathing.

The danger from Linus is the one that eeds to be tackled, IMO. Yes, we must follow the Linus way or the RMS way. It only seems logical to invite them both in and have them fight to the death in a cagematch. The survivor gets to determine the GPL version.

I'll help!

[mattgreen]

I can answer all kinds of legal questions about Linux on Slashdot, so why didn't they invite me?

Re:Bullet and Ballot Box

[Enderandrew]

Yep, when Linus said that he didn't really want to get involved in license wars, and wouldn't carry the GPL torch, he clearly demonstrated that he is obnoxious in his desire to trample over people's rights.

When Linus said he didn't care about politics, only code, he was emulating the IRA without a doubt.

When Linus said he didn't intend to take a side with the Novell/Microsoft deal, but rather just focus on writing code, his clear intention to command legal authority and force his hegemony over all.

Re:Against the spirit...

[weicco]

Never ever bring facts to conversation! It's against the rules here.