SGI OpenVault
Wilfredo Sanchez
wsanchez at apple.com
Wed Apr 28 17:15:06 UTC 1999
| Perhaps another idea is to convince some of the larger companies
to wash
| their liability by granting the source code to some smaller
organization,
| perhaps a non-profit or not-for-profit industry organization,
which is not
| nearly as attractive as a litigation target as Apple or SGI might be.
We've discussed that here, and the legal team thinks that even so,
given that the large company knows that the smaller
please-sue-me-instead group is distributing our code basically as the
company's proxy, that it could still be held liable for contributory
infringement, for having given the organization the code with the
intent of having them distribute it; you can simply pass the hot
potato.
It is clear, in Apple's case, at least, that a (big) reason we
opened the source was to have it distributed in hopes of having other
improve on it. We've said as much publically. So the intent is
clear, and the possible liability comes with it, regardless of how we
go about getting the code out there.
Trying to dance around law is a tricky business, and the best
thing to do is usually to just plain cover your tail, and play it
straight.
-Fred
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