Most software today is built using a combination of off-the-shelf components, open-source software, and proprietary source code. Many software companies do not fully appreciate the implications and the complexity of incorporating third-party components, and, by extension, their license agreements, into an application that is intended to be distributed or sold. Even open-source software is usually governed by one of a variety of common licenses, which differ significantly in their terms. There are many situations in which it is not clear whether a particular use, adaptation, or combination of software or code is allowed under the license agreement.

What We Do

At Quandary Peak, our experts:

  • Understand the technical implications of the legal jargon used in common license agreements.
  • Analyze software composition to determine the presence of open source libraries.
  • Assist in licensing disputes by analyzing how the components in a system are related to rights and obligations laid out in licenses.
  • Document findings in a form accessible to non-technical people.
  • Determine whether source code of a software system was used or copied in another system in violation of the license agreement.
  • Collect electronic evidence proving or disproving alleged illegal distribution of copyrighted software.

What We Know
  • GNU General Public License (GPL) and copyleft
  • Software composition analysis (SCA) using WhiteSource and FOSSA
  • Mozilla Public License (MPL)
  • Apache License
  • Oracle Java Binary Code License (BCL) for Java
  • End user license agreements (EULAs)
  • SDK agreements
  • Software distribution channels (p2p networks)
  • Code clone analysis

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