Managing commercial risks in open source software licensing

Legal context: The article reviews the commercial risk allocation clauses intypical open source licence terms and discusses their enforceabilityand implications. Key points: The enforceability of warranty disclaimers and limitation ofliability clauses in common open source licence terms is questionable,particularly in a cross-border context, and commercial licensorsshould take additional steps to protect themselves from down-streamrisks. Practical significance: Open source software presents a number of unusual commercialissues, because it is available free of charge and the providerstry to disclaim warranties and liabilities. End users and resellershave to adjust their own in- and out-licensing models to accommodatethis situation.     

Four Lessons for Developing Countries from the Trade Negotiations Over Access to Medicines

After the Agreement on the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) came into operation in 1995 developing countries have found themselves in a process of continual negotiation over intellectual property rights and access to medicines. These negotiations have taken place in the World Trade Organization and in the context of free trade agreements. The paper suggests that the only real win for developing countries has been the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health in 2001. What have been the lessons for developing countries in a decade of negotiations over access to medicines? Drawing on themes of rule complexity and regulatory ritualism the paper discusses four key lessons for developing countries. It concludes by arguing that developing countries will do better if they adopt a networked governance approach to negotiation rather than continuing to rely on traditional coalition formation.     

Competitive Liberalization,Competitive Imperialism,and Intellectual Property

Aggressive pursuit of free trade agreements (FTAs) and customs unions (CUs) by major and minor trading powers alike challenges the conventional wisdom in favor of such pursuit – competitive liberalization. An equally plausible explanation for an active bilateral and regional trade agreement policy, one which effectively de-emphasizes multilateralism, may be competitive imperialism. The protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights is one area in which new provisions, going beyond multilateral rules, are being negotiated and written into FTAs and CUs. Such provisions may yield insights into which characterization of bilateralism and regionalism – competitive liberalization or competitive imperialism – is more apt. Rice Distinguished Professor, The University of Kansas, School of Law, Green Hall, 1535 West 15th Street, Lawrence, KS 66045-7577, USA. Tel. +1-785-8649224. Fax. +1-785-8645054. www.law.ku.edu. J.D., Harvard (1989); M.Sc., Oxford (1986); M.Sc., London School of Economics (1985); A.B., Duke (1984). Marshall Scholar (1984-86). Member, Council on Foreign Relations, Royal Society for Asian Affairs, and Fellowship of Catholic Scholars. Author, Modern GATT Law (Sweet & Maxwell 2005), International Trade Law: Theory and Practice (2nd ed. 2000, 3rd ed. forthcoming 2007-08), and Trade, Development, and Social Justice (Carolina Academic Press 2003). I am thankful to my Research Assistant, Mr. David R. Jackson (B.A., George Mason University, 1992; J.D. Class of 2007, University of Kansas), for his indispensable help on this work. I also am grateful to Dr. Mohammed El Said, University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN), for his consistent support and friendship, and for what he has taught and continues to teach me about international trade and intellectual property.     

褪黑素对内毒素血症山羊肝线粒体自由基代谢的影响

为探讨褪黑素对内毒素血症山羊肝线粒体自由基代谢的影响,将48只山羊随机分为4组,生理盐水组(NS组)、内毒素组(LPS组,1 mg/kg)、褪黑素组(MT组,1 mg/kg)和褪黑素保护组(MT LPS组),每组分别在处理后第3和6 h各宰杀6只羊,取肝组织,提取肝线粒体,检测肝线粒体中超氧化物歧化酶(T-SOD)、总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)和谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性及丙二醛(MDA)含量的变化。结果显示,内毒素血症时山羊肝线粒体中抗氧化酶的SOD、GSH-Px、GR和CAT活性降低,T-AOC活力下降,MDA含量明显增加,而褪黑素保护组肝线粒体抗氧化酶活性普遍回升,MDA含量明显下降。提示,褪黑素能减轻内毒素血症山羊因脂质过氧化造成的肝线粒体损伤,保护肝线粒体功能。     

反思国际法效力根据"协调意志"的意识形态性

国际法的效力根据在于所谓各国意志之间的协议,即"协调意志"说.但是,"协调意志"说的意识形态性与现代国际法理论及发展趋势存在冲突,与国际社会和国际法的发展存在不和谐之处,"协调意志"说的意识形态性在一定程度上使国际法发展的推动力受到削弱,损害了国际法作为一个学科体系的生命力.因此,我们应以开放的态度对待国际法,不应局限在某一狭隘的、群体的范围内,使其更有利于国际社会和全人类的发展.     

英美法系与中国的法人越权原则之异同

法人越权是指法人的行为超出了章程规定的目的范围。其中如何平衡投资者、法人及交易相对人的利益是关键问题。研究英美法系的主要国家对法人越权问题的研究发展状况 ,可以对我国应采取的措施有些启示     

健全和完善公民表达权的法律保障机制

党的十七大报告把"表达权"列为公民四权之一,并强调要依法保障,这对我国推进社会主义民主法治、构建和谐社会以及大力发展文化创新都具有非常重要的意义。然而,现行法律、法规以及司法资源对"表达权"的保护相对不足,因此,需要进一步健全和完善公民表达权的法律保障机制。     

论检察机关自由裁量权

检察机关自由裁量权的构建对我国完善的诉讼制度具有重要意义。当今将起诉法定主义与起诉便宜主义相结合,赋予检察机关更大的自由裁量权,已成为世界检察改革的趋势。我国现行刑事诉讼法明确了检察机关相对不起诉的自由裁量权,但在法学界和司法实践中,检察机关的自由裁量权尚未获得普遍的理性认识。文章就如何加强对检察机关自由裁量权,追求法的公平、程序正义价值,体现诉讼经济原则等方面进行了探讨,并提出了完善我国检察机关自由裁量权的构想。     

论担保物权期间的效力

新出台的《担保法》解释基于物权法定主义规定当事人约定的担保期间无效。物权法虽以物权法定主义原则作基石却亦有意思自治之空间 ,物权法定主义仅指物权的种类和内容由法律规定 ,当事人不得自由创设 ,于此之外 ,应为当事人自治之领域 ,担保期间的约定就属当事人自治之范畴。承认当事人约定的担保物权期间的效力能够提高担保的信用 ,更好的发挥担保制度的立法功能 ,同时也能使当事人充分实现意思自治 ,体现民法的私法本质。故此 ,立法应当承认当事人约定的担保物权期间的效力。     

试论婚内强奸(下)

从婚内无"奸"到婚内有"奸",经历了一个漫长的过程.然而在现代社会,婚内强奸行为是否构成犯罪?这已成为当前社会探讨的焦点问题.婚姻关系存续期间的男女两性关系的特殊性和已婚妇女相对于丈夫是否享有性的自由权利以及我国是否具备将婚内强奸行为认定为强奸罪的社会基础都将成为决定婚内强奸行为是否构成强奸罪的决定因素.