The Copyright Lawyer’s Role in Tech Deals: Open Source Software and M&A

When: May 11, 2022 at 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT - This event has passed

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:  

Free and open source software is so ubiquitous that software free of any open source components is the exception. Software developers regularly leverage open source components to design proprietary code, and also seek opportunities to contribute to the open source community. This panel will examine the role of open source software in technology companies and in particular, in mergers and acquisitions. The panelists will discuss open source due diligence, including coordinating legal and technical due diligence and strategies for evaluating and correcting open source compliance.

 

SPEAKERS:

Pamela S. Chestek is the principal of Chestek Legal in Raleigh, North Carolina. She counsels creative communities on open source, brand, marketing and copyright matters. Prior to returning to private practice, she held in-house positions at footwear, apparel, and high technology companies. She is a frequent author of scholarly articles, and her blog, Property, Intangible, provides analysis of current intellectual property case law. In addition to her law practice, Pam is on the Board of Directors and Chair of the Licensing Committee of the Open Source Initiative, the organization that determines whether licenses meet the Open Source Definition and can therefore be called “open source” licenses. 

 

Abby Moskovitz is SVP, General Counsel & Secretary at Hyland Software, Inc., a leading content services provider with over 4,000 employees, and partners, customers and employees in over 40 countries. Hyland recently acquired the two leading open source content services platforms, Alfresco and Nuxeo. Prior to joining Hyland in 2010, Abby practiced intellectual property law at the Dobrusin Law Firm in Pontiac, Michigan, and worked on a wide variety of legal matters as an associate at Langrock, Sperry & Wool in Middlebury, Vermont, and McCutchen, Doyle, Brown and Emersen LLP (now Bingham McCutchen) in San Francisco, California.

 

Shayne O’Reilly is the Head of Licensing & Open Source at Meta Platforms, Inc. (formerly Facebook, Inc.) where his team leads technology transactions, IP licensing and transactions, commercial, IP & product support for M&A, standards, open source, and academic collaborations. Shayne previously served as Associate General Counsel for IP Litigation at Meta where he managed domestic and international intellectual property litigation matters. Shayne currently serves on the Board of the Crypto Open Patent Alliance and is a member of The Conference Board Chief IP Officers Council. Prior to joining Facebook, Shayne worked for Kilpatrick, Townsend & Stockton LLP where his practice focused on patent litigation, client counseling, technology transactions, M&A due diligence, and post grant review work. Outside of work, Shayne enjoys working with non-profit organizations and serves on the Board of The Ron Clark Academy and the Silicon Valley Urban Debate League. Shayne has received the Silicon Valley Business Journal 40 under 40 award, MCCA Rising Star award, and National Bar Association Diversity in Tech award.

Theresa Weisenberger (Moderator) is a Partner at Baker & Hostetler LLP and focuses her legal practice on the intersection of technology and business, and regularly advises technology clients on various aspects of intellectual property law. She employs a mix of patent, copyright and trade secret protection to design intellectual property strategies that align with her clients’ business goals. She guides clients through every stage of IP strategy, from creation and capture, operationalizing and monetizing, and, when necessary, resolving intellectual property disputes. She routinely conducts due diligence to facilitate the transfer of IP rights, including as part of mergers and larger acquisitions.

 

CLE CREDIT:

The Copyright Society is an Accredited Continuing Legal Education Provider in Pennsylvania, New York and California. Instructions for verifying attendance will be emailed to registrants prior to the program.

California:  1.0 participatory credit

New York: 1.0 Areas of Professional Practice / This intermediate program is transitional and appropriate for both newly admitted and experienced attorneys.

Pennsylvania: 1.0 general credit


COST:

Members: $55

Non-Members: $95
Student Members: Free

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Cancellation Policy

Refunds must be requested in writing at least three business days before the event. Refunds will not be issued after that point. Unfortunately we will not be able to credit your registration payment toward a future event, but you may allow another person to attend in your place. Please email bcohen@csusa.org and let us know that person’s name, affiliation, city and state, and email address.

 
Financial Aid

The Copyright Society is dedicated to making its programming accessible by providing a limited number of scholarships each year to students, law clerks, unemployed attorneys, and nonprofit and government employees. For information on how to apply, please click here.

CLE Credit Details

The Copyright Society is an Accredited Continuing Legal Education Provider in Pennsylvania, New York and California. Instructions for verifying attendance will be emailed to registrants prior to the program. California: 1.0 participatory credit New York: 1.0 Areas of Professional Practice / This intermediate program is transitional and appropriate for both newly admitted and experienced attorneys. Pennsylvania: 1.0 general credit

This event has passed