[License-review] Request for a new license review [Luther-LAW_DE.FID5237501]

Wed Jan 8 07:55:44 UTC 2025

Niccolo,

As you mentioned, this is essentially the MIT License with a modified 
limitation of liability. You have said "the versatile MIT license does 
not contain a limitation of liability that is effective under German 
law."  I would like to understand more about how the MIT License would 
be interpreted under German law. If the limitation of liability in it is 
not effective, how would the document be construed? Is it ineffective 
altogether, so there is no grant of a license at all? Of is the 
offending paragraph stricken, so license is effective but there is no 
limitation on liability?

If that is the case, what is the possible liability of the authors or 
copyright holders where there is no limitation? For example, the 
language in your proposed license is "IN THE EVENT OF NEGLIGENT BREACH 
OF AN OBLIGATION, WHOSE FULFILLMENT IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF 
THE CONTRACT (CARDINAL OBLIGATION), THE LIABILITY OF THE AUTHOR OR 
COPYRIGHT HOLDER IS LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE THAT IS FORESEEABLE 
AND TYPICAL AT THE TIME THE CONTRACT IS CONCLUDED." Without that 
language, what is the extent of the liability the author or copyright 
holder might have? For example, would they be liable for non-negligent acts?

I'm just trying to understand what the advantage is to stating the 
lawful boundaries of a limitation of liability versus what will happen 
with an unenforceable limitation - that is, if the MIT license, with an 
unenforceable limitation, nevertheless ends up in about the same place.

Just also as a general point of information for readers, in the US it 
varies from state to state, but in general we also cannot disclaim 
liability for intentional, fraudulent, or grossly negligent acts. But 
most likely a could would just ignore the attempt and allow the 
limitation to the extent it is lawful.

Thanks,

Pam

Pamela S. Chestek (in my personal capacity)
Chestek Legal
PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW MAILING ADDRESS
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El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
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On 12/23/2024 3:17 AM, Langenheim, Niccolo wrote:
>
> Dear all,
>
> first thanks for the helpful feedback so far. Please find attached a 
> first version of the English license text. We are still looking for an 
> Open Source valid certified translator who will submit a certified 
> translation. As soon as we have such a certified translation, we will 
> make it available to you immediately. As we need to have a German 
> license text, we need an official, and OSI-approved text of those 
> licenses in German.
>
> The following is also the other requested information for the review 
> process:
>
>  1. A copy of the license in both German and English can be found in
>     the attachment in plain text format.
>  2. I hereby confirm that, to the best of my knowledge, the license
>     submitted complies with the Open Source Definition and in
>     particular fulfills OSD 3, 5, 6 and 9.
>  3. Since the license is to be used and created for the first time for
>     a cross-city project, there are currently no projects using the
>     license. However, it is planned that the license will be used in
>     mid/late January.
>  4. The name of the license is OSC License and the version number is 1.0.
>  5. Need for regulation: Based on the queries, I would like to
>     reiterate that the problem with the invalid limitation of
>     liability mentioned in the previous email does not only exist in
>     the public sphere (cities, etc.), but for anyone who wants to use
>     the license. Regarding the distinction between the rights holder
>     and the author, I would like to state the following:
>
> Copyright arises from the act of creation. It encompasses a range of 
> powers of the author to use and exploit his work, which will be 
> explained in more detail below.
>
> However, a distinction must be made here between two essential concepts:
>
> On the one hand, there is the highly personal right as the author. It 
> is inextricably linked to the person of the author – which is why it 
> is also referred to as the author's moral right. This right cannot be 
> transferred to another person by contract, nor can another person be 
> contractually designated as the author if the latter was not directly, 
> practically and personally involved in the creation of the work. 
> Furthermore, the author cannot waive his or her (moral) right of 
> authorship.
>
> The moral rights of the author are to be distinguished from the rights 
> of use and exploitation of a work – these can be transferred to other 
> persons, for example by means of a license agreement. In order to take 
> into account this *possible, but not mandatory*, disassociation of the 
> author and the rights holder, both are included in the license.
>
> Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions 
> and please let me know if you require any further information.
>
> Kind Regards
>
> Niccolo Langenheim
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> *Niccolo****Langenheim, LL.M.*
>
>
> Rechtsanwalt
>
> IP/IT
>
> *Nächste geplante Abwesenheit/next planned absence: 23.12.2024 – 
> 13.01.2025*
>
> **
>
> *Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH*
>
> Anna-Schneider-Steig 22 (Rheinauhafen), 50678 Köln, Germany
>
> Phone: +49 221 9937 21105
>
> Fax: +49 221 9937 110
>
> Mobile: +49 152 016 21105
>
> niccolo.langenheim at luther-lawfirm.com 
> <mailto:niccolo.langenheim at luther-lawfirm.com>
>
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> *From:*License-review <license-review-bounces at lists.opensource.org> 
> *On Behalf Of *Pamela Chestek
> *Sent:* Freitag, 13. Dezember 2024 05:09
> *To:* license-review at lists.opensource.org
> *Subject:* Re: [License-review] Request for a new license review
>
> Hi Niccolo,
>
> Can you submit it with the information described on this page? 
> https://opensource.org/licenses/review-process
>
> Since this is not in English, we will also need a certified 
> translation of the license.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Pam Chestek
> Chair, License Committee
> Open Source Initiative
>
> On 12/11/2024 1:58 AM, Langenheim, Niccolo wrote:
>
>     Dear Open Source Initiative Team,
>
>     With this e-mail I am submitting a new Open Source license on
>     behalf of my client, the city of Solingen in Germany. The need for
>     the new license stems from the fact that the versatile MIT license
>     does not contain a limitation of liability that is effective under
>     German law. Even if it is predominantly assumed in the specialist
>     literature that Open Source licenses are generally subject to
>     donation law and therefore more favourable liability and warranty
>     rights apply, it has not yet been confirmed by the courts. This
>     results in the risk that courts may adopt a different legal
>     interpretation in the event of a dispute, with the result that the
>     statutory liability limitations of donation law no longer apply.
>     However, it is particularly important for public law projects of
>     cities, municipalities, etc. to agree a legally secure limitation
>     of liability that guarantees a limitation of liability regardless
>     of the legal classification.
>
>     In order to close this gap in the limitation of liability and at
>     the same time benefit from the advantages of an MIT license, we
>     have drafted the following license, which, apart from an effective
>     limitation of liability, is based on the MIT license:
>
>     Copyright (c) <Jahr> <Copyright Inhaber>
>
>     Jedem, der eine Kopie dieser Software und der zugehörigen
>     Dokumentationsdateien (die „Software“) erhält, wird hiermit
>     kostenlos die Erlaubnis erteilt, ohne Einschränkung mit der
>     Software zu handeln, einschließlich und ohne Einschränkung der
>     Rechte zur Nutzung, zum Kopieren, Ändern, Zusammenführen,
>     Veröffentlichen, Verteilen, Unterlizenzieren und/oder Verkaufen
>     von Kopien der Software, und Personen, denen die Software zur
>     Verfügung gestellt wird, dies unter den folgenden Bedingungen zu
>     gestatten:
>
>     Der obige Urheberrechtshinweis und dieser Genehmigungshinweis
>     müssen in allen Kopien oder wesentlichen Teilen der Software
>     enthalten sein.
>
>     DIE AUTOREN ODER URHEBERRECHTSINHABER HAFTEN UNBESCHRÄNKT BEI
>     VORSATZ, ARGLISTIGER TÄUSCHUNG, GROBER FAHRLÄSSIGKEIT, DER
>     VERLETZUNG VON LEIB, LEBEN ODER GESUNDHEIT UND SOWEIT DIE HAFTUNG
>     GESETZLICH NICHT BESCHRÄNKT ODER AUSGESCHLOSSEN WERDEN KANN. BEI
>     FAHRLÄSSIGER VERLETZUNG EINER PFLICHT, DEREN ERFÜLLUNG WESENTLICH
>     FÜR DIE DURCHFÜHRUNG DES VERTRAGS IST (KARDINALPFLICHT), HAFTEN
>     DIE AUTOREN ODER URHEBERRECHTSINHABER DER HÖHE NACH BEGRENZT AUF
>     DEN SCHADEN, DER BEI VERTRAGSSCHLUSS VORHERSEHBAR UND TYPISCH IST.
>
>     DARÜBER HINAUS IST EINE HAFTUNG AUSGESCHLOSSEN.
>
>     DIE VORSTEHENDE HAFTUNGSBESCHRÄNKUNG GILT AUCH FÜR DIE HAFTUNG DER
>     MITARBEITER, VERTRETER UND ORGANE DER AUTOREN ODER
>     URHEBERRECHTSINHABER.
>
>     Finally, I would like to note that the license has been legally
>     reviewed by our law firm.
>
>     I will be happy to answer any further questions.
>
>     Kind Regards
>
>     NiccoloLangenheim
>
>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>     *Niccolo****Langenheim*
>
>
>     *Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH*
>
>     Anna-Schneider-Steig 22 (Rheinauhafen), 50678 Köln, Germany
>
>     Phone: +49 221 9937 21105
>
>     Fax: +49 221 9937 110
>
>     Mobile: +49 152 016 21105
>
>     niccolo.langenheim at luther-lawfirm.com
>     <mailto:niccolo.langenheim at luther-lawfirm.com>
>
>     www.luther-lawfirm.com <http://www.luther-lawfirm.com/>
>
>
>     Luther Lawfirm - Juve 2024 <http://www.luther-lawfirm.com/>
>
>     Einen Überblick über unsere aktuellen Veranstaltungen finden Sie
>     im _Luther-Terminkalender
>     <https://www.luther-lawfirm.com/newsroom/veranstaltungen>_
>
>
>
>
>     <http://www.luther-lawfirm.com/>
>
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> -- 
> Pamela S. Chestek Chair, License Committee Open Source Initiative
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Geschäftsführer: Elisabeth Lepique, Dr. Markus Sengpiel
> Die Gesellschaft ist eingetragen beim Registergericht Köln
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