Re: [Ksummit-discuss] [CORE TOPIC] GPL defense issues

[Greg KH <greg@kroah.com>]

On Wed, Aug 24, 2016 at 08:30:50PM +0200, Wolfram Sang wrote:
> > So we need be aware that if the kernel summit starts discussing legal
> > issues, we open ourselves up to a much wider range of "issues" than we
> > have ever had before.
> 
> I'd think the variety of opinions will make it impossible to reach a
> common statement or conclusion anyhow (as this thread shows as well).
> But to inform (interested) people what is happening right now and
> discuss it, why not? What kind of issues could come from that?

When someone involved in a legal suit talks to other people about it,
those other people, in some countries/jurisdictions, can then be called
in to testify / be disposed as part of that suit by the other member of
it.

I do my best to _never_ have to be disposed in anything, and so should
everyone else, as what can be asked in that can be _very_ wide ranging
and is almost always used in ways that you never want or intended it to
be.

And if you work for a company, you can be seen as a company
representative and all sorts of other things come into play very
quickly.

I served on a Grand Jury in the US for a while, so I've seen how the
legal system can work.  It can be arbitrary and unfair at times,
unfortunately.

Talk to any lawyer with experience in litigation for lots of stories if
you are curious.

So please be careful,

greg k-h