Robinson Tryon

Since its beginning, the free software community has found novel ways of hacking the law to serve the greater good. Though starting with copyright, as patents and trademarks became increasingly relevant for projects, our leaders and lawyers found it necessary to include specific language in new and updated licenses. Whether this is your first conference or you've been a part of the FLOSS community for decades, come enjoy a lighthearted, informative look at the relationship of Free Software and the Law over the years, plus a glimpse into the legal future of libre hardware and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Most small businesses have no patent strategy. Though many FOSS companies have policies in place regarding copyright and keeping detailed records of code contributions, few have paid enough attention to how patent litigation could affect them. For those FOSS businesses active in multiple countries or looking to expand into an international market, failure to understand the patent ecosystem in each jurisdiction could be a costly mistake.

Most small businesses have no patent strategy. Though many FOSS companies have policies in place regarding copyright and keeping detailed records of code contributions, few have paid enough attention to how patent litigation could affect them. For those FOSS businesses active in multiple countries or looking to expand into an international market, failure to understand the patent ecosystem in each jurisdiction could be a costly mistake.

This talk will use recent cases and ongoing changes in the patent systems of the US & Europe as modern examples for our discussion. We'll describe the pitfalls that can affect any company, tabulate the costs of litigation, and offer methods businesses can use to reduce overall risk.

With the future of the European Union's Unitary Patent Court in limbo due to the Brexit, and with no public position on patents from the United States' next administration, leaders in Free Software owe it to themselves and their companies to be more agile and more prepared to address patent issues -- whether they work at a small startup or at a large multinational corporation.

Events celebrating Document Freedom Day (DFD) are kicking off this week across the globe. Free formats and protocols are essential to free software, but many people around the world haven't heard about the importance and benefits of free standards. At this strategy session we'll

• Discuss DFD events planned for 2015
• Sign you up to run your own DFD event
• Compare DFD and Software Freedom Day (SFD)
• Review what outreach methods have been most effective
• Brainstorm new ideas to promote free formats