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DEBATE: Should FOSS licenses be enforced at all?

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DEBATE: Should FOSS licenses be enforced at all?
FOSDEM 2020

In a perfect world, lawyers (and the entire legal system) should not be necessary. And in a perfect FOSS world, everyone respects each and every provision of every license. The reality is, however, very different, and enforcement may be a necessary evil. This need does not mean we have to open the gates to be flooded by "copyleft trolls", but to establish a sound enforcement policy, in order to unleash the lawyers only for the most blatant and repeated violations

Affirmative position: FOSS licenses should not be enforced.

  1. First Affirmative Constructive (1AC) = 7 minutes a. Cross-examination of First Affirmative by Second Negative = 3 minutes
  2. First Negative Constructive (1NC) = 7 minutes a. Cross-examination of First Negative by First Affirmative = 3 minutes
  3. Second Affirmative Constructive (2AC) = 7 minutes a. Cross-examination of Second Affirmative by First Negative = 3 minutes
  4. Second Negative Constructive (2NC) = 7 minutes a. Cross-examination of Second Negative by Second Affirmative = 3 minutes
  5. First Negative Rebuttal (1NR) = 3 minutes
  6. First Affirmative Rebuttal (1AR) = 3 minutes
  7. Second Negative Rebuttal (2NR) = 3 minutes
  8. Second Affirmative Rebuttal (2AR) = 3 minutes

Speakers: Pamela Chestek Giovanni Battista Gallus Marc Jones McCoy Smith