167 line
6.8 KiB
HTML
167 line
6.8 KiB
HTML
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
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<!--
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This is the main page about the LN.
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It is intended to give the visitor a general overview of what the LN is and to provide the necessary links to other, more detailed pages.
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-->
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<html>
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<version>1</version>
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<head>
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<title>The Legal Network</title>
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</head>
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<body>
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<h1>The Legal Network</h1>
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<!-- What -->
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<div id="introduction">
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<p>
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The Legal Network<a class="fn" id="ref-1" href="#fn-1">1</a> is a
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neutral, non-partisan, group of experts in different fields
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involved in Free Software legal issues. Currently the Legal
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Network has over 400 participants from different legal systems<a
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class="fn" id="ref-2" href="#fn-2">2</a>, academic backgrounds<a
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class="fn" id="ref-3" href="#fn-3">3</a> and affiliations<a
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class="fn" id="ref-4" href="#fn-4">4</a>.
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</p>
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</div>
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<!-- Why -->
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<p>
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The aim of the Legal Network is to promote discussion and foster
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better knowledge of the legal constructs that back Free Software.
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The conversations on the Legal Network are intended to be
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dynamic, thought-provoking and up to speed with the most recent
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developments.
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</p>
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<h2>Building Legal Expertise</h2>
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<p>
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Providing a neutral place of discussion allows the Free Software
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community at large to grow and develop in various ways. Through
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spirited discussions, the Legal Network can also speculate on
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possible complications that may arise with Free Software, before
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they emerge in legal practice. Consequently, it develops
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solutions and tries to build consensus around them in the Free
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Software legal community. Members of the Legal Network also use
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it to improve each other’s expertise in those fields in which
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they are less well-versed, contributing to the overall
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improvement legal expertise on Free Software.
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</p>
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<!-- How -->
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<p>
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The discussions of the Legal Network are held in a private mailing list. Through the <a href="/activities/ln/llw.html">Free Software Legal and Licensing Workshop</a>, the Legal Network provides a catalyst for such activities, giving its members a chance to meet in person, present their works and ideas and get immediate feedback.
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</p>
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<!-- Output -->
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<h2>A Neutral and Protected Space for Discussion</h2>
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<p id="outreach"><a
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href="/activities/ln/application.html">Admission to the Legal
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Network</a> is restricted, and the discussions held there are
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confidential. Nevertheless, this does not mean that the content of
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the mailing list is contained away from the larger Free Software
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community. The <a
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href="https://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/chatham-house-rule">Chatham
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House Rule</a> applies to all discussions on the Legal Network
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mailing list and at Legal Network events, which enables members to
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use the information received, but not to reveal the identity nor
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the affiliation of the speaker or any of the participants involved
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in the discussion.</p>
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<p>
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Discussions on the Legal Network mailing list and affiliated
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events are also subject to a Code of Conduct and <a
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href="/activities/ln/rules.html">general rules of moderation</a>.
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</p>
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<h2>The Council of the Legal Network</h2>
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<p>
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The <a href="/activities/ln/council.html">Council of the Legal
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Network</a> assists the FSFE with administering the Legal Network
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by providing the advice of expert members. It operates with a
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collaborative attitude and takes into account input from various
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sources, including interested parties, prominent members, and the
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FSFE.
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</p>
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<p>
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The Council is consulted on the prospective evolution of the
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Legal Network and operates as an advisory board of sorts for
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decisions taken by the FSFE.
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</p>
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<h2>Special Interest Groups</h2>
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<p>
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When a topic that requires more in-depth analysis arises, the
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Legal Network can sometimes set up a Special Interest Group
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(SIG). SIGs are subject to the same Code of Conduct as the Legal
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Network, but participants can invite experts from outside the
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Network if their input is deemed valuable. When the discussion on
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the original question has reached maturity, the SIG presents its
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output to the wider community.
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</p>
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<p>
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Any member of the Legal Network can propose the creation of a SIG
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on a new topic by contacting the Legal Coordinator, or by
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declaring such interest directly on the Legal Network mailing
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list.
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</p>
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<h2>How to Join the Legal Network</h2>
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<p>
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Given the high level of confidentiality of some discussions,
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admission to (and continued membership in) the Legal Network is
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subject to the approval of the FSFE and depends on the respect of
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the Legal Network regulations.
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</p>
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<p>
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Successful applicants will have expertise in legal matters
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pertaining to Free Software, and will join the Legal Network in
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order to share their knowledge with their peers from around the
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world. While some members are indeed affiliated with prominent
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companies or organisations, this does not constitute a factor in
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assessing membership, which is awarded on a personal basis.
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</p>
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<p>
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The Legal Network thrives in the diversity of its members. As
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such, there is a particular interest in welcoming new experts
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from the geographical areas that are currently under-represented
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(i.e. Eastern European countries, the Baltic states, Asia, South
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America and Africa).
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</p>
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<p>
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All applicants should have a current Legal Network member sponsor
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their application. If you intend to join or to propose someone as
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a Legal Network member, use our application form <a
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href="/activities/ln/application.html">application form</a>.
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</p>
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<h2 id="fn">Footnotes</h2>
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<ol>
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<li id="fn-1">Previously known as "European Legal Network".<a href="#ref-1" class="ref">↩</a></li>
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<li id="fn-2">The Legal Network currently has members from 28 countries spread over 4 continents.<a href="#ref-2" class="ref">↩</a></li>
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<li id="fn-3">The Legal Network is composed by highly competent legal professionals, engineers and other professional figures that contribute with their own specific knowledge.<a href="#ref-3" class="ref">↩</a></li>
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<li id="fn-4">The Legal Network members are private practitioners, volunteers, relevant members of the Free Software community, employees of enterprises of different sizes.<a href="#ref-4" class="ref">↩</a></li>
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</ol>
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</body>
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<description>Information about the largest structure for legal discussion on Free Software in the world.</description>
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</html>
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