Groklaw
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Groklaw is a web site, created and edited by Pamela Jones (posting with the signature PJ). It was begun as an experiment in applying Open Source principles to legal research. Groklaw became famous when, soon after being set up, it started providing detailed investigation into SCO Group's litigation against IBM and its attacks on Linux and providing legal research that might prove helpful. It was designed also as an anti-FUD site. Originally a blog created on Radio UserLand, in May 2003, its increasing popularity forced it to seek outside hosting, and in September 2003 the site found its current home at Ibiblio. It is now a website with content provided by thousands of individuals.
Groklaw focuses on fact-finding. Because the group is made up of programmers as well as lawyers and paralegals, and the general public, the combined effort makes it possible to find esoteric technical information and evidence that otherwise might be missed by those with a less technical background. By explaining what is happening in the legal process, Groklaw attempts to make it possible for those with technical skills to know what evidence might be legally useful, so they can then provide it.
Groklaw has won journalism awards and has been cited in numerous articles covering the court cases. It is also designed as a resource for journalists. Groklaw will privately do research for journalists who need information about the case and don't know where to look to find it.
Groklaw derives its power from voluntary efforts of dedicated individuals in a community effort. The efforts of Groklaw are directed at discovering the truth regarding SCO's allegations, and it attempts to be a voice for the FOSS community, who, while not a party to any of the SCO litigations, are nonetheless affected by them. While the Groklaw community is not neutral or NPOV in the sense that sites such as Wikipedia strive to be, nevertheless it is not sponsored by any of the interested parties. It is a volunteer effort, supported by the FOSS community.
Anticipating further legal threats against GNU/Linux and the open source community, Pamela Jones launched Grokline, a Unix ownership timeline project, in May, 2004.
Groklaw's name derives from Robert Heinlein's neologism 'grok', roughly meaning "to understand completely", which had previously entered geek slang.
See also
External links
- Groklaw (http://www.groklaw.net/)
- Grokline (http://www.grokline.net/)
- Linux Online interview with Pamela Jones (http://www.linux.org/people/pj_groklaw.html)
- Open letter to SCO (http://www.groklaw.net/staticpages/index.php?page=20030923112622826)
- An accompanying research document for the Open Letter (http://www.groklaw.net/staticpages/index.php?page=20030929022014462)