Overview
The Software Preservation Network endeavors to ensure that cultural memory institutions and related entities can exercise broad and clear legal rights to engage in software preservation (including providing access for research, teaching, and learning). We do this in two principal ways: by educating our members about their legal rights and responsibilities, and by advocating on behalf of our members in a variety of legal and political forums, including government agencies, courts, and legislatures. We also facilitate better private arrangements with donors and vendors by identifying good practices that preserve and build on members’ legal rights and policy interests.
Working Group
The Law & Policy Working Group supports SPN’s goal to explore and document fair use, licensing and information policy specifics pertaining to the lawful preservation, sharing and reuse of software in cultural heritage and research contexts. This charge also includes policy at the institutional level as it pertains to collection development, day-forward enterprise software licensing and information security.
Coordinator: Graeme Slaght, University of Toronto
Members: Paula Jabloner, Computer History Museum; Ana Enriquez, Penn State University; Raven Lanier, University of Michigan; Graeme Slaght, University of Toronto; Brandon Butler, University of Virginia; Alexander Roberts, Swansea University; and Paul Wheatley, Digital Preservation Coalition.
Past Members: Jessica Meyerson, Educopia Institute; Jess Whyte, University of Toronto; Yuanxiao Xu, University of Michigan
Current goals:
- Facilitate and coordinate monthly copyright chats with Brandon Butler to discuss legal issues around software preservation and access, especially Fair Use Best Practices & DMCA exemption
- Solicit feedback from SPN community on utility of tools developed by the Law & Policy working group, and assess what’s needed to build momentum
- Provide monthly law & policy updates in Stacktrace, and periodically on website
Related News
August-September 2020: RBG and Oracle; Sovereign Immunity Study; SPN joins CASE Act Letter; DMCA Marches
The legal world was shaken by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in September, and the extraordinary speed with which President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell intend to replace her. The new nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, doesn’t have …Continue August-September 2020: RBG and Oracle; Sovereign Immunity Study; SPN joins CASE Act Letter; DMCA Marches
Law Posts, News
You’re Invited! SPN Law & Policy Chat on the DMCA Remote Access Limitation
You’re invited to a special public session of the SPN Law & Policy Chats! Each month, SPN’s Law & Policy Advisor, Brandon Butler, creates space for SPN members to come and ask questions that help them understand how the law …Continue You’re Invited! SPN Law & Policy Chat on the DMCA Remote Access Limitation
Law Posts, News
Comments of the Software Preservation Network in re Public Access to Peer-Reviewed Scholarly Publications, Data and Code Resulting From Federally Funded Research
Formal comments submitted by the Software Preservation Network to the Office of Science and Technology Policy in response to a Request for Information regarding “Public Access to Peer-Reviewed Scholarly Publications, Data and Code Resulting From Federally Funded Research.” Thank you …Continue Comments of the Software Preservation Network in re Public Access to Peer-Reviewed Scholarly Publications, Data and Code Resulting From Federally Funded Research
Law Posts, News
Google v. Oracle: A Landmark Software Copyright Case
This term the Supreme Court will hear arguments in Oracle v. Google, a major software copyright case. SPN members should keep a close watch on this case, as it could shape the scope of copyright protection for software as well as …Continue Google v. Oracle: A Landmark Software Copyright Case
Law Posts, News
Software Preservation Networks Joins Amicus Brief Filed with the Supreme Court
Last week, the Software Preservation Network joined an amicus brief filed with the Supreme Court. In this blog post, I’ll say a little bit about the case, Allen v. Cooper, and, since this is the first time SPN has joined an …Continue Software Preservation Networks Joins Amicus Brief Filed with the Supreme Court
Law Posts, News
Is Old Licensed Software Legal Kryptonite? Lessons from the Adobe Letter.
Oh hello! I’m Brandon Butler, the Law and Policy Advisor for SPN, and this is a new regular-ish blog feature called I am Not Your (Software) Lawyer. The name is apt, because although I am indeed a lawyer, I am not your …Continue Is Old Licensed Software Legal Kryptonite? Lessons from the Adobe Letter.