Partner

Steve Winslow

Steve advises companies on a wide array of matters relating to their use of software and technology. He has deep experience in software licensing, open source software development and use, data privacy, and other matters involving technology transactions and commercial contracts. His practical approach helps companies manage risks appropriately while balancing the needs of their business to achieve their goals quickly.

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Photo, David Shopper

About Steve

With a background in computer programming, Steve is able to understand the nuances of software licensing questions from both a technical and legal perspective. He brings a deep knowledge of the software industry from his prior experience in-house, as well as working closely with a wide variety of in-house attorneys and developers from across the technology ecosystem in a community-facing role at The Linux Foundation.

Steve advises companies on a wide array of matters relating to their use of software and technology. He has deep experience in software licensing, open source software development and use, data privacy, and other matters involving technology transactions and commercial contracts. His practical approach helps companies manage risks appropriately while balancing the needs of their business to achieve their goals quickly.

In addition to his work with Boston Tech Law, Steve is an active participant in the open source technical community. He is a member of the SPDX Steering Committee, co-leader of the SPDX Legal Team and maintainer of the SPDX License List, and has also contributed code to other open source projects such as Zephyr and FOSSology.

Before joining the firm, Steve was Vice President of Compliance and Legal and a Director of Strategic Programs at The Linux Foundation. Previously he was Vice President of Technology Law at Intralinks, and an associate at Choate, Hall and Stewart in Boston, where he was named a "Rising Star" for Technology Transactions in 2014 by Massachusetts Super Lawyers. Steve graduated from Georgetown University Law Center and majored in computer science at Williams College.

Practice Focus

Software Licensing & Development

Drafting and negotiating agreements for a wide array of technology procurement, sales and services engagements, including mission-critical technology purchases, customer contracts, platform frameworks, OEM and reseller arrangements, professional services, and many other inbound and outbound license agreements. Advising clients and their technical personnel on specifics of their rights and obligations under key contracts.

Data Privacy & GDPR Compliance

Special focus on all matters relating to the development and use of open source software, including advising on license compliance; contribution mechanisms; community dynamics and engagement strategies; and other forms of technical collaboration such as open data, open hardware and standards development.

Open Source Software

Special focus on all matters relating to the development and use of open source software, including advising on license compliance; contribution mechanisms; community dynamics and engagement strategies; and other forms of technical collaboration such as open data, open hardware and standards development.

Representative Engagements

  • Represented SaaS provider in dispute with mission-critical technology licensor, including negotiation of settlement agreement and modified licensing structure.

  • Drafted template agreement for client's IT training and certification sales program and negotiated agreements with multiple customers.

  • Represented major retail chain in negotiating multiple software licensing and professional services agreements for development of client’s new E-commerce website, coordinating with multiple internal stakeholders to address business, security and legal concerns.

  • Reviewed client's processing of personal data, drafted revisions to privacy policy, and advised on process for handling GDPR data subject requests.

  • Designed triage process for categorizing risk and streamlining reviews of inbound technology procurement agreements.

  • Coordinated multi-stakeholder process for drafting and rollout of new community license for sharing of open data.

  • Advised client's product and operations team on data privacy and licensing matters for development and rollout of new technology platform.

  • Analyzed SaaS company's use of third-party and open source software, and advised client on license compliance and remediation matters in lead-up to sale of company for >$500 million.

  • Member of two-person team representing client in negotiation of $30 million IT services outsourcing agreements, and advised client regarding key matters in long-term outsourcing relationship.

  • Advised new SaaS workflow collaboration client regarding intellectual property and software licensing matters, and drafted enterprise customer, end user license and beta testing agreements.

  • Reviewed and analyzed software and hardware companies' products for compliance with open source and commercial software licenses.

Practice Areas

  • Commercial Contracts
  • Cloud Computing
  • Open Source Software
  • Privacy & Data Security
  • Copyright

Selected Industries

  • Software
  • Internet & E-Commerce
  • Emerging Companies
  • Data, AI & Analytics

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