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.     

知识产权公权化理论的解读和反思

知识产权的权利属性是知识产权研究的基本理论问题.因传统的视知识产权为私权的观点在面对知识产权相较于其他私权的特殊性及其领域内层出不穷的新问题时常常遭遇无法解释的困境,所以,有些学者提出了"知识产权公权化"理论,即在承认知识产权私权本质属性的前提下,指出知识产权是公权化的私权,试图以此来寻到新的"突破口".但事实上,该理论因其立论依据本身就存在疑问,是经不起推敲的,它是在社会思潮运动影响下对知识产权权利客体特殊性的一种误读.知识产权作为私权的根本属性不应该因为知识产权所呈现出的某些独特性而被改变,在当前承认并且强调知识产权的私权属性具有重大意义.     

"大国际私法观"辩正

大国际私法观缺乏学科学理论的支持,对其所负任务的认识也不够清晰科学.国际私法的范围应当根据实际的需要来加以确定.当前,国际私法的主要目的是解决在涉外民商事交往中或在处理涉外民商事争议时所出现的法律问题,因此,它的范围应当从处理涉外民商事案件的过程加以判断和确定.我国传统大国际私法观所包含的内容也应据此作出相应的修正.     

论行政成文法主义的危机

行政成文法是现代行政法的主流,进入21世纪后,随着社会格局和法治理念的变化,行政成文法主义的理论基础和实践状态已岌岌可危.但这一问题并未引起我国学界的广泛关注.正是基于这样的状况,我们对行政成文法主义的危机进行了较为系统的探讨.认为其存在诸多先天的不足,这些不足正是导致行政成文法危机的诱因.行政成文法危机的产生有着深层次的原因,这从国家权力全球化倾向、利益组合多元化倾向等角度可得到佐证.为了应对行政成文法主义危机的客观现实,我国行政法治的走向应有新的进路,包括行政法理念符合时代精神、行政法治大系统相对开放、行政法体系予以分解、行政法渊源多元化.     

国际海运立法中分化与协调的百年变奏——以海上货物运输承运人责任制度为视角

承运人责任制度是国际海上货物运输法律制度的核心,其发生、发展与变革无不取决于国际贸易、航海技术、运输方式等因素.基于此,我们认为:在未来的一个相当长的时期内,过失责任制应该得到维系,在过失责任制下,免责事项将逐渐醇化,举证责任将根据航运实践的特点予以合理分配,承运人的赔偿责任亦将继续得到适当的限制,从而使过失责任制得到彻底的贯彻.     

论行政征收的公共利益判断

公共利益需要是行政征用的首要原则,公益性的有无是判断征用合法与否的重要要件.我国的行政征收制度忽视区分公共利益的应然层面和实然层面的两层含义,侧重于维护"绝对的公共利益".关于公共利益的讨论,应当着眼于支撑着公共利益应然性表达的实然性表达,即行政和司法审查的制度结构和运作过程.从这种角度出发,应当重点考虑公益界定向程序化和技术化的界定模式转化.     

执行程序的局部修正与整体改革——兼论司法改革的整体性

治理"执行难"应有整体思路,需要通盘考虑民事诉讼法的全面修订与制定独立的强制执行法这两个相互关联的问题.法律的局部修订应与我国司法改革的进程相互协调,总结司法实践的经验教训,用法律的形式将已经取得的改革成果固定下来,同时也为将来进一步的改革提供宏观思路和整体规划,使立法与改革相辅相成,相互促进.     

大学生就业困境及法律保障问题研究——以《劳动合同法》制定为视角

1999年6月,随着我国高校扩招政策出台,我国高等教育步入跨越式发展阶段,这使得我国高校毕业生激增,而在短期内,社会对高校毕业生的需求增加幅度不会有很大变化.因此,在激烈的竞争中大学生就业弱势地位会愈加明显.大学生就业困境已经成为一个社会问题,如何解决大学生就业的法律保障是今后的一项重大课题.2006年3月20日,全国人大常委会向社会公布<中华人民共和国劳动合同法(草案)>并征求意见,此举无疑为研究大学生就业中的法律保障问题提供了新的契机.因此,基于大学生就业中缺乏法律保障之背景,探讨大学生就业的劳动合同法保护尤为必要.     

A SHORT COMMENTARY ON TIMOTHY M. TIPPINS AND JEFFREY P. WITTMANN'S "EMPIRICAL AND ETHICAL PROBLEMS WITH CUSTODY RECOMMENDATIONS

In this commentary, the call for clinical humility and judicial vigilance in custody recommendations is confirmed as valid and the Australian experience, where the child custody report writer has for some years been permitted to express an opinion on the ultimate issue, is considered. The inherent risks are briefly discussed, and the question of who of the judge and the social scientist might be better placed to decide the exquisitely difficult children's issues after family breakdown is touched upon. It suggests that a combination of the expert's opinion and judicial fact finding probably produces a result that is as good as it gets. But a greater danger is highlighted. It is the impact of the adversary system, and whether it is suitable in any event to these sensitive court decisions.     

The GMO food arena in the EU (1998–2001)

A highly politicised arena in the EU has been caused by the 1998 Commission legislative proposal with regard to genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The debate over different interests became more intense. During the EU decision‐making process concerning GMOs, two larger coalitions cutting across institutions and countries waged the fight: one was led by industry and was in favour of GMOs and the other was against and mainly rooted in nongovernmental lobby groups. In mid‐2001, the ‘anti’ movement had gained a (temporary) winning position. In an attempt to explain this, it was concluded that the industrial lobby has been nonchalant in its preparatory work for public affairs management, by not carefully studying the various stakeholders, issues, time developments and the boundaries of this arena. With the benefit of hindsight it can be seen that the industrial lobby itself has missed opportunities and made unforced errors. Copyright © 2003 Henry Stewart Publications