Exploring Corporate Structures and Governance Models for the Open-Source Community https://cyber.law.harvard.edu/events/luncheons/2016/05/Ritvo_Hessekiel <http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/events/luncheon/2014/06/sigal> *featuring Dalia Topelson Ritvo and Kira Hessekiel* Today, 6.00 pm Webcast live: http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/interactive/webcast http://nexa.polito.it/berkman-webcast-live Organizations that develop open source software are often inherently fragmented and loosely-networked, which can make governance and decision-making a challenge. In addition, as the open source community grows and becomes more global, so too has the need to establish strong governance models and corporate structures that allow an organization to achieve its mission, and foster a sustainable community both creatively and financially. In order to do this, it is helpful for open source organizations to understand the corporate structures and governance models available to them so they may evaluate the pros and cons of different approaches to institutional management and financial structure. In this session, we plan to discuss the various corporate structures and governance models available to open source organizations, including a discussion on when it is appropriate for an open source organization to seek tax exempt status. About Dalia Dalia Topelson Ritvo is the Assistant Director of Harvard Law School’s Cyberlaw Clinic, based at Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society. She is also a Lecturer on Law at HLS, where she co-teaches Counseling and Legal Strategies in the Digitial Age. Dalia has concentrated her legal practice on privacy, consumer protection, intellectual property and media law, particularly in the areas of technology, media and digital content. Prior to joining Harvard Law School, Dalia worked as in-house counsel at Amazon.com. From 2004-2009, Dalia worked as an associate in the New York law offices of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and DLA Piper LLP, focusing on intellectually property and technology issues. Dalia received her B.A., magna cum laude, from Emory University in 1999 and her JD and LLM in International Law from Duke University School of Law in 2004. About Kira Kira is a Project Coordinator of Harvard Law School’s Cyberlaw Clinic, based at Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society. Prior to joining the Clinic, Kira spent a year teaching English as a second language to high school students near Rouen, France. She also spent time as member of AARP Massachusetts advocacy and outreach teams.
