David Axmark and Michael “Monty” Widenius donate 200 000 dollars to Software Freedom Law Center
In 2000, MySQL co-founder David Axmark first told me about having met with Eben Moglen. His descriptions of Eben were always filled with respect and admiration — respect for a person who can keep his integrity and views of how software law should shape the world, and admiration for Eben’s pragmatism and ability to make a difference in the real world.
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| David Axmark | Michael “Monty” Widenius | Eben Moglen |
Over the years since David’s first encounters, Eben and his later estabished Software Freedom Law Center have repeatedly provided MySQL and its founders with insightful advice. As a startup, initially without any VC financing, MySQL hasn’t always been able to compensate proportionately to the value created.
In recognition of the value created for MySQL through SFLC’s advice, especially on how Eben helped defend MySQL as a GPL developer against license breaches, David and Monty have decided to donate 100 000 dollars each to the SFLC. David and Monty hope this token of appreciation can help the SFLC to give legal advice to support some of today’s startups, who build their business on Free Software. They also hope to inspire other Open Source entrepreneurs to support the SFLC.
Note: SFLC provides legal representation and other law-related services to protect and advance Free and Open Source Software. Founded in 2005, the Center now represents many of the most important and well-established free software and open source projects.
Links:
- Software Freedom Law Center: http://www.softwarefreedom.org/
- David Axmark: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Axmark
- Michael “Monty” Widenius: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael Widenius
- Eben Moglen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eben_Moglen
- MySQL DevZone Interview with David: http://dev.mysql.com/tech-resources/interviews/david-axmark.html
- SFLC Services: http://www.softwarefreedom.org/services/
- SFLC Donations: http://www.softwarefreedom.org/donate/
- MySQL Thanks the Free Software Foundation (7 Nov 2002): http://www.mysql.com/news-and-events/generate-article.php?id=178
- MySQL Thanks the Software Freedom Law Center (8 May 2007): http://blogs.mysql.com/kaj/2007/05/08/software-freedom-law-center/
June 28th, 2008 at 1:18
now all they have to do is report the donations to the sun foundation, and get the company matching. the matching for non-US employees is supposed to be unlimited.