The legality of free and open source software licences: the case of Jacobsen v. Katzer

Book chapter

Fitzgerald, Brian F. and Olwan, Rami. (2011). The legality of free and open source software licences: the case of Jacobsen v. Katzer. In In M. Perry and B. Fitzgerald (Ed.). Knowledge Policy for the 21st Century: a legal perspective Irwin Law.
AuthorsFitzgerald, Brian F. and Olwan, Rami
EditorsM. Perry and B. Fitzgerald
Abstract

In August 2008 one of, if not the most, influential Intellectual Property courts in the USA known as the Court of Appeals for Federal Circuit upheld the validity of a free and open source software licence known as the Artistic Licence. The case is significant because up until this point there has been little judicial discussion of the legal operation of this new type of copyright licensing that is sweeping across the world fuelled by the ubiquity of the Internet. The decision in Robert Jacobsen v. Matthew Katzer and Kamind Associates, Inc. 2008 U.S. App. LEXIS 17161 (Fed. Cir. 2008) issued on 13 August 2008 provides a unique and welcomed insight into the legal operation of free and open source software licences and by analogy Creative Commons styled open content licences. This article analyses the judgment and provides commentary on its reasoning.

KeywordsFree Software; FOSS; FLOSS; Free and Open Source Software; Creative Commons; Open Source; Software Licensing; Open Content; Open Content Licensing; Enforcement; Legality of Free and Open Source Software Licensing; Copyright; Copyleft; Copyright Licensing; Covenant; Condition; Restrictions; Artistic License; Jacobsen v Katzer; Federal Circuit
Year2011
Book titleKnowledge Policy for the 21st Century: a legal perspective
PublisherIrwin Law
Place of publicationCanada
ISBN9781552211724
Open accessOpen access
Research GroupThomas More Law School
Publisher's version
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/86x78/the-legality-of-free-and-open-source-software-licences-the-case-of-jacobsen-v-katzer

Log in to edit

Download files

Publisher's version
Fitzgerald_2008_The_legality_of_free_and_open.pdf

  • 115
    total views
  • 77
    total downloads
  • 2
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

Copyright in the age of access
Fitzgerald, Brian. (2017). Copyright in the age of access. European Intellectual Property Review. 39(3), pp. 131 - 135.
Copyright, Fair Use and the Australian Constitution
Pappalardo, Kylie Marie and Fitzgerald, Brian. (2015). Copyright, Fair Use and the Australian Constitution. In In B Fitzgerald and J Gilchrist (Ed.). Copyright Perspectives pp. 125 - 164 Springer Science and Business Media. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15913-3_8
The meaning and future of copyright
Atkinson, Benedict and Fitzgerald, Brian. (2014). The meaning and future of copyright. In A Short History of Copyright pp. 129 - 136 Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02075-4_14
Suppression orders after Fairfax v Ibrahim: Implications for internet communications
Fitzgerald, Brian F. and Foong, Cheryl. (2013). Suppression orders after Fairfax v Ibrahim: Implications for internet communications. Australian Bar Review. 37, pp. 1 - 17.
Intellectual Property and Development - A road map for developing countries in the 21st century
Olwan, Rami and Fitzgerald, Brian. (2012). Intellectual Property and Development - A road map for developing countries in the 21st century. Nials Journal of Intellectual Property. 1(2), pp. 44 - 64.
Web 2.0, social networking and the courts
Fitzgerald, Brian F., Foong, Cheryl and Tucker, Megan. (2012). Web 2.0, social networking and the courts. Australian Bar Review. 35(3), pp. 281 - 301.
Open Access to Judgements: Creative Commons Licences and the Australian Courts
Fitzgerald, Anne M., Hooper, Neale, Foong, Cheryl and Fitzgerald, Brian. (2012). Open Access to Judgements: Creative Commons Licences and the Australian Courts. Murdoch University Law Review. 19(1), pp. 1 - 46.
Third party copyright and public information infrastructure/registries: How much copyright tax must the public pay?
Fitzgerald, Brian F. and Atkinson, Benedict. (2011). Third party copyright and public information infrastructure/registries: How much copyright tax must the public pay? In In B. F. Fitzgerald and M. Perry (Ed.). Knowledge policy for the 21st century pp. 225 - 268 Irwin Law.
Queensland Law Reform :A review of jury selection (No. 68)
Atkinson, R, Hutchinson, T, Bond, J, Fitzgerald, Brian, Herd, B and Ryan, R. (2011). Queensland Law Reform :A review of jury selection (No. 68) Australia: Queensland Law Reform Commission.
Country of origin and internet publication: Applying the Berne Convention in the digital age
Fitzgerald, Brian F., Shi, Sampsung Xiaoxiang, Foong, Cheryl and Pappalardo, Kylie M.. (2011). Country of origin and internet publication: Applying the Berne Convention in the digital age. Journal of Intellectual Property (NJIP) Maiden Edition.
Copyright future copyright freedom
Fitzgerald, Brian F. and Atkinson, Benedict. (2011). Copyright future copyright freedom Sydney University Press.
Free software as a democratic principle
Suzor, Nic, Fitzgerald, Brian and Perry, Mark. (2011). Free software as a democratic principle. In In M. Perry and B. F. Fitzgerald (Ed.). Knowledge policy for the 21st Century: A legal perspective pp. 17 - 28 Irwin Law.
Queensland Law Reform: A review of jury selection (No. 68)
Fitzgerald, Brian F.. (2011). Queensland Law Reform: A review of jury selection (No. 68) Australia: Queensland Law Reform Commission.
The legitimacy of graduated response schemes in copyright law
Suzor, Nicolas and Fitzgerald, Brian. (2011). The legitimacy of graduated response schemes in copyright law. University of New South Wales Law Journal. 34(1), pp. 1 - 40.
A relational theory of authorship
Shi, Sampsung Xiaoxiang and Fitzgerald, Brian. (2011). A relational theory of authorship. In In B. F. Fitzgerald and M. Perry (Ed.). Knowledge policy for the 21st century: A legal per pp. 291 - 312 Irwin Law.
Queensland Law Reform Commission: A review of the law in relation to the final disposal of a dead body
Atkinson, R, Hutchinson, T, Bond, J, Fitzgerald, Brian, Herd, B and Ryan, S. (2011). Queensland Law Reform Commission: A review of the law in relation to the final disposal of a dead body Australia: Queensland Law Commission.
Internet and e-commerce law, business and policy
Fitzgerald, Anne M., Fitzgerald, Brian F., Middleton, Gaye and Clark, Eugene. (2011). Internet and e-commerce law, business and policy Thomson Reuters (Professional) Australia Ltd.
Digitisation of books in Australia for the public good
Fitzgerald, Brian F., Foong, Cheryl and Pappalardo, Kylie M.. (2011). Digitisation of books in Australia for the public good
Promoting creativity and innovation through law
Fitzgerald, Brian F.. (2011). Promoting creativity and innovation through law. In In L. Mann and J. Chan (Ed.). Creativity and innovation in business and beyond: pp. 117 - 134 Routledge.
Free software as a democratic principle
Suzor, Nicolas, Fitzgerald, Brian and Perry, Mark. (2011). Free software as a democratic principle. In In B. Fitzgerald and M. Perry (Ed.). Knowledge policy for the 21st century: A legal per pp. 17 - 28 Irwin Law.
The criminalisation of copyright law
Gething, Steven and Fitzgerald, Brian. (2011). The criminalisation of copyright law. In In C. Antons (Ed.). The enforcement of intellectual property rights: Comparative perspectives from the Asia-Pacific Region pp. 213 - 225 Kluwer Law International.
The copyright principles project: Directions for reform
Samuelson, Pamela, Baumgarten, Jon A., Carroll, Michael W., Cohen, Julie, Dow, Troy, Fitzgerald, Brian, Gasaway, Laura, Gervais, Daniel, Ilardi, Terry, Litman, Jessica, Loren, Lydia Pallas, Lunney, Glynn, Ochoa, Tyler, Reese, Anthony R., Spelman, Kate, Sprigman, Christopher, Sigall, Jule, Traynor, Michael, Wheatland, Tara and Williams, Jeremy. (2010). The copyright principles project: Directions for reform. Berkeley Technology Law Journal. 25(3), pp. 1 - 68.
Enabling open access to public sector information with Creative Commons Licences: The Australian experience
Fitzgerald, Anne M., Fitzgerald, Brian F. and Hooper, Neale. (2010). Enabling open access to public sector information with Creative Commons Licences: The Australian experience. In Access to Public Sector Information: Law, Technology and Policy Sydney University Press.
The use of Creative Commons licensing to enable open access to public sector information and publicly funded research results: an overview of recent Australian developments
Fitzgerald, Anne M., Hooper, Neale and Fitzgerald, Brian F.. (2010). The use of Creative Commons licensing to enable open access to public sector information and publicly funded research results: an overview of recent Australian developments. In In Danielle Bourcier, Pompeu Casanovas and Melanie Dulong de Rosnay (Ed.). Intelligent Multimedia: Managing Creative Works in a Digital World pp. 151 - 174 European Press Academic Publishing.
Digital economy future direction
Fitzgerald, Brian F., Fitzgerald, Anne, Coates, Jessica and Pappalardo, Kylie Marie. (2010). Digital economy future direction. In In B. Fitzgerald (Ed.). Access to public sector information; Law, technolo pp. 555 - 575 Sydney University Press.
Creative Commons
Fitzgerald, Brian F.. (2010). Creative Commons. Telecommunication Journal of Australia. 60(4), pp. 63.1 - 63.18. https://doi.org/10.2104/tja10063
Enabling open access to public sector information with Creative Commons Licences: The Australian Experience
Fitzgerald, Anne M., Hooper, Neale and Fitzgerald, Brian. (2010). Enabling open access to public sector information with Creative Commons Licences: The Australian Experience. In In B. Fitzgerald (Ed.). Access to public sector information: Law, Technolo pp. 71 - 138 Sydney University Press.
Digital economy future directions
Fitzgerald, Brian F., Fitzgerald, Anne M., Coates, Jessica and Pappalardo, Kylie M.. (2010). Digital economy future directions. In In B. F. Fitzgerald (Ed.). Access to Public Sector Information: Law, Technology and Policy pp. 555 - 575 Sydney University Press.
Copyright law in the United Arab Emirates in the digital age
Fitzgerald, Brian F. and Olwan, Rami. (2010). Copyright law in the United Arab Emirates in the digital age. European Intellectual Property Review. 32(11), pp. 565 - 574.
The peer-to-patent initiative: Revitalizing patent examination with peer review
Fitzgerald, Brian F., McEniery, Benjamin J. and Webbink, Mark H.. (2010). The peer-to-patent initiative: Revitalizing patent examination with peer review. NCURA Magazine.
Open access policies, practices and licensing: A review of the literature in Australia and selected jurisdictions
Fitzgerald, Anne M., Hooper, Neale, Appleyard, Baden, Buttigieg, Karen, Pappalardo, Kylie Marie and Fitzgerald, Brian. (2009). Open access policies, practices and licensing: A review of the literature in Australia and selected jurisdictions Brisbane, Australia: Queensland University of Technology.
The future of data policy
Fitzgerald, Anne M., Fitzgerald, Brian F. and Pappalardo, Kylie M.. (2009). The future of data policy. In In T. Hey, S. Tansley and K. Tolle (Ed.). The Fourth Paradigm: Data-Intensive Scientific Discovery pp. 201 - 208 Microsoft Research.
Traditional cultural expression and the internet world
Fitzgerald, Brian F. and Hedge, Susan. (2009). Traditional cultural expression and the internet world. In Traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions and intellectual property law in the Asia-Pacific region pp. 245 - 272 Kluwer Law International.
The future of data policy
Fitzgerald, Anne M., Fitzgerald, Brian Francis and Pappalardo, Kylie Maria. (2009). The future of data policy. In In T. Hey, S. Tansley and K. Tolle (Ed.). The fourth paradigm: Data-intensive scientific discovery pp. 201 - 208 Microsoft Corporation.
Copyright and innovation in the digital age: The United Arab Emirates
Fitzgerald, Brian F. and Olwan, Rami. (2009). Copyright and innovation in the digital age: The United Arab Emirates. E Commerce and Intellectual Property Conference. UAE University, Abu Dhabi:
Understanding open access in the academic environment: A guide for authors
Pappalardo, Kylie, Fitzgerald, Brian, Fitzgerald, Anne, Kiel-Chisholm, Scott, Georgiades, Jenny and Austin, Anthony. (2008). Understanding open access in the academic environment: A guide for authors Queensland University of Technology, Oak Law Project.
The law as cyber infrastructure
Fitzgerald, Brian and Pappalardo, Kylie. (2008). The law as cyber infrastructure. In In B. Fitzgerald (Ed.). Legal framework for e-research: Realising the potential pp. 147 - 158 Sydney University Press.
Civil jurisdiction, intellectual property and the internet
Fitzgerald, Brian and Shi, Sampsung Xiaoxiang. (2008). Civil jurisdiction, intellectual property and the internet. In In B. Fitzgerald, F. Gao and D. O' Brien and S. X. Shi (Ed.). Copyright Law, digital content and the internet in the Asia-Pacific pp. 381 - 403 Sydney University Press.
Copyright 2010: The future of copyright law
Fitzgerald, Brian. (2008). Copyright 2010: The future of copyright law. In In B. Fritzgerald, F. Gao and D. O'Brien and Sampsung Xiaoxiang Shi (Ed.). Copyright Law, digital content and the internet in the Asia-Pacific pp. 173 - 185 Sydney University Press.
Creating a legal framework for copyright management of open access within the Australian academic and research sector
Fitzgerald, Brian, Fitzgerald, Anne, Perry, Mark, Kiel-Chisholm, Scott, Driscoll, Erin, Thampapillai, Dilan and Coates, Jessica. (2008). Creating a legal framework for copyright management of open access within the Australian academic and research sector. In In B. Fitzgerald (Ed.). Legal framework for e-research: Realising the potential pp. 264 - 330 Sydney University Press.
Copyright law, digital content and the internet in the Asia-Pacific
Fitzgerald, Brian F., Shi, Sampsung Xiaoxiang, O'Brien, Damien S. and Gao, Fuping. (2008). Copyright law, digital content and the internet in the Asia-Pacific Sydney University Press.
Introduction
Fitzgerald, Brian. (2008). Introduction. In In B. Fitzgerald (Ed.). Legal framework for e-research: Realising the potential pp. 1 - 2 Sydney University Press.
Digital sampling and culture jamming in a remix world: What does the law allow?
Fitzgerald, Brian and O'Brien, Damien. (2007). Digital sampling and culture jamming in a remix world: What does the law allow?
Legal issues for wikis: The challenge of user-generated and peer-produced knowledge, content and culture
Black, Peter, Delaney, Hayden and Fitzgerald, Brian. (2007). Legal issues for wikis: The challenge of user-generated and peer-produced knowledge, content and culture. Murdoch University Law Review. 14(1), pp. 245 - 282.
Internet and e-commerce law: Technology, law and policy
Fitzgerald, Brian F., Fitzgerald, Anne M., Beale, Timothy, Lim, Yee Fen and Middleton, Gaye. (2007). Internet and e-commerce law: Technology, law and policy Lawbook Company.
Games history, content, practice and law
Fitzgerald, Brian, Humphreys, Sal, Banks, John, Done, Keith and Suzor, Nicolas. (2007). Games history, content, practice and law. In In B. Fitzgerald, J. Coates and S. Lewis (Ed.). Open content licensing: Cultivating the Creative Commons pp. 196 - 228 Sydney University Press.
Legal issues for wikis: the challenge of user-generated and peer-produced knowledge, content and culture
Black, Peter, Delaney, Hayden and Fitzgerald, Brian. (2007). Legal issues for wikis: the challenge of user-generated and peer-produced knowledge, content and culture. Murdoch University Law Review. 14(1), pp. 245 - 282.
Games and law: History, content, practice and law
Fitzgerald, Brian, Humphrey, Sal, Banks, John A., Done, Keith and Suzor, Nic P.. (2007). Games and law: History, content, practice and law. In Brian F. Fitzgerald (Ed.). Open Content Licensing: Cultivating the Creative Commons. Sydney, NSW: Sydney University Press. pp. 196 - 229
The role of open content licences in building open content communities: Creative commons, gfdl and other licences
Suzor, Nicholas P. and Fitzgerald, Brian F.. (2007). The role of open content licences in building open content communities: Creative commons, gfdl and other licences. In In C. Kapitzke, M.A. Peters and Peters (Ed.). Global knowledge cultures pp. 145 - 159 Sense Publishers.
A short overview of Creative Commons
Fitzgerald, Brian. (2007). A short overview of Creative Commons. In In B. Fitzgerald (Ed.). Open content licensing: Cultivating the Creative Commons pp. 3 - 6 Sydney University Press.
Open content licensing: Cultivating the creative commons
Fitzgerald, Brian F., Coates, Jessica M. and Lewis, Suzanne M.. (2007). Open content licensing: Cultivating the creative commons Sydney University Press.
The rise of open access in the creative, educational and science commons
Kiel-Chisholm, Scott and Fitzgerald, Brian. (2006). The rise of open access in the creative, educational and science commons. Policy Futures in Education. 4(4), pp. 366 - 379.
Floss as democratic principle: Free software as democratic principle
Perry, Mark and Fitzgerald, Brian. (2006). Floss as democratic principle: Free software as democratic principle. International Journal of Technology, Knowledge and Society. 2(3), pp. 155 - 164.
The Australian Sony PlayStation Case: How Far Will Anti-circumvention Law Reach in the Name of DRM?
Fitzgerald, Brian F.. (2006). The Australian Sony PlayStation Case: How Far Will Anti-circumvention Law Reach in the Name of DRM? International Conference on Digital Rights Management: Technology Issues, Challenges and Systems (DRMTICS), November 2005. Sydney, NSW: Springer. pp. 32 - 51 https://doi.org/10.1007/11787952_3
Mashups, remixes and copyright law
O'Brien, Damien and Fitzgerald, Brian. (2006). Mashups, remixes and copyright law. Internet Law Bulletin. 9(2), pp. 17 - 19.
FLOSS as Democratic Principle: Free software as Democratic Principle
Perry, Mark and Fitzgerald, Brian. (2006). FLOSS as Democratic Principle: Free software as Democratic Principle. International Journal of Technology, Knowledge and Society. 2(3), pp. 155 - 164.
Copyright and the Creative Industries in China
Montgomery, Lucy and Fitzgerald, Brian. (2006). Copyright and the Creative Industries in China. International Journal of Cultural Studies. 9(3), pp. 407 - 418.
Mashups, remixes and copyright law
O'Brien, Damien and Fitzgerald, Brian. (2006). Mashups, remixes and copyright law. Internet Law Bulletin. 9(2), pp. 17 - 19.
Copyright and the creative industries in China
Montgomery, Lucy and Fitzgerald, Brian. (2006). Copyright and the creative industries in China. International Journal of Cultural Studies. 9(3), pp. 407 - 418.
The rise of Open Access in the Creative, Educational and Science Commons
Kiel-Chisholm, Scott and Fitzgerald, Brian. (2006). The rise of Open Access in the Creative, Educational and Science Commons. Policy Futures in Education. 4(4), pp. 366 - 379.
Legal issues for the use of free and open source software in government
Fitzgerald, Brian and Suzor, Nicolas. (2005). Legal issues for the use of free and open source software in government. Melbourne University Law Review. 29(2), pp. 412 - 447.
The Playstation mod chip: A technological guarantee of the digital consumer's liberty or copyright menace/circumvention device?
Fitzgerald, Brian. (2005). The Playstation mod chip: A technological guarantee of the digital consumer's liberty or copyright menace/circumvention device? Media and Arts Law Review. 10(1), pp. 85 - 98.
Copyright Law and the Creative Industries in China
Fitzgerald, Brian F. and Montgomery, Lucy. (2005). Copyright Law and the Creative Industries in China. Shanghai:
Legal issues for the use of free and open source software in government
Fitzgerald, Brian and Suzor, Nicolas. (2005). Legal issues for the use of free and open source software in government. Melbourne University Law Review. 29(2), pp. 412 - 447.
Fan based production for computer games: User led innovation, the 'drift of value' and the negotiation of intellectual property rights
Humphreys, Sal, Fitzgerald, Brian, Banks, John and Suzor, Nicolas. (2005). Fan based production for computer games: User led innovation, the 'drift of value' and the negotiation of intellectual property rights. Media International Australia Incorporating Culture and Policy: quarterly journal of media research and resources.
Open Content Licencing (OCL) for Open Educational Resources
Fitzgerald, Brian F.. (2005). Open Content Licencing (OCL) for Open Educational Resources. OECD Expert Meeting on Open Educational Resources. Malmo, Sweden:
The Playstation mod chip: A technological guarantee of the digital consumer's liberty or copyright menace/circumvention device?
Fitzgerald, Brian. (2005). The Playstation mod chip: A technological guarantee of the digital consumer's liberty or copyright menace/circumvention device? Media and Arts Law Review. 10(1), pp. 85 - 98.
Fan based production for computer games: User led innovation, the 'drift of value' and the negotiation of intellectual property rights
Humphreys, Sal, Fitzgerald, Brian, Banks, John and Suzor, Nicolas. (2005). Fan based production for computer games: User led innovation, the 'drift of value' and the negotiation of intellectual property rights. Media International Australia Incorporating Culture and Policy: quarterly journal of media research and resources.
Digital sampling and culture jamming in a remix world: what does the law allow?
Fitzgerald, Brian and O'Brien, Damien. (2005). Digital sampling and culture jamming in a remix world: what does the law allow? Media and Arts Law Review. 10(4), pp. 279 - 298.
Intellectual property: In principle
Fitzgerald, Anne and Fitzgerald, Brian. In L. Weeks (Ed.). (2004). Intellectual property: In principle Lawbook Co..
Legal issues relating to free and Open Source Software
Fitzgerald, Brian and Bassett, Graham. (2004). Legal issues relating to free and Open Source Software. In In B. Fitzgerald and G. Bassett (Ed.). Legal issues relating to free and open source software pp. 11 - 36 Queensland University of Technology - Law School.