The Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC) is an organization that provides legal representation and related services to protect and advance free software / open source software. It was launched in February 2005 with Eben Moglen as Chairman. Initial funding of $4 million USD was pledged by Open Source Development Labs.
A news article stated: Moglen expects - in fact, plans for - a large turnover in the staff. After five years, he anticipates 20 to 30 lawyers will have passed through the Center. By the time these alumni move on, Moglen hopes that its members will have the expertise to advise both communities and corporations alike. It will also create a loose association whose members can consult with each other as necessary. blank">http://trends.newsforge.com/trends/05/02/11/2216239.shtml?tid=147
SFLC is particularly known for its role in the drafting of version 3 of the _GNU General Public License (GPL). This work was done on behalf of its client, the Free Software Foundation.
On September 20, 2007 the SFLC filed a lawsuit for copyright infringement against Monsoon Multimedia, Inc. claiming noncompliance with the GPL license for including BusyBox, a lightweight set of standard Unix utilities, in their Monsoon Multimedia HAVA line of products without releasing BusyBox's source code. This is allegedly the first time a company is being taken to court for a GPL violation in the U.S.
On December 7, 2007 the SFLC filed a lawsuit for copyright infringement against Verizon Communications, Inc. also claiming noncompliance with the GPL license for including BusyBox in the Actiontec MI424WR MoCA wireless routers bundled with the FiOS fiber optic bandwidth service. The GPL requires that Verizon publish the source code to the MI424WR for the recipients of the device.
