October 10, 2007

The Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC), provider of pro-bono legal services to protect and advance Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), today announced that Mark Webbink has joined its board of directors.

Webbink comes to SFLC from Red Hat, the premiere Linux and open source vendor, where he served as its first general counsel beginning in 2000. In 2004, he became Red Hat’s deputy general counsel for intellectual property, a position he served in until his retirement in August 2007. During his tenure with Red Hat, Webbink wrote and spoke extensively on the subjects of open source software, software patents, and patent reform.

Webbink is a Senior Lecturing Fellow with the Duke University School of Law and consults with open source companies on their business strategies. He holds a BA from Purdue University as well as a Master of Public Administration and J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“During my time at Red Hat, I came to understand that open source developers perform their best work when sound legal advice is available to them,” said Webbink. “I look forward to working with an organization that provides this essential role to the Free and Open Source Software community.”

“Mark brings his exceptional experience and knowledge of FOSS licensing and the enterprise marketplace to the SFLC at a critical time in the software industry,” said Eben Moglen, founding director of SFLC. “I am grateful to Mark for putting his wisdom at the service of our clients, for the good of everyone who makes, distributes or uses free software.”

Webbink will be introduced at SFLC’s first annual Legal Summit for Software Freedom at Columbia Law School in New York on Friday, October 12th.

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