Do you want BuboFlash to help you learning these things? Or do you want to add or correct something? Click here to log in or create user.



Software engineers and the law

Never ask a lawyer a boolean question

If you want to change selection, open document below and click on "Move attachment"

&lt;title&gt;<path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M12.1303 0.000379039C10.9833 -0.00959082 9.87819 0.431464 9.05309 1.22855L9.04556 1.23593L7.79145 2.48303C7.50587 2.767 7.50453 3.22877 7.78844 3.51441C8.07235 3.80004 8.53401 3.80139 8.81959 3.51741L10.0698 2.27423C10.6194 1.74503 11.3546 1.45229 12.1177 1.45892C12.8824 1.46556 13.6139 1.77236 14.1546 2.31323C14.6954 2.8541 15.0021 3.58577 15.0087 4.35065C15.0154 5.11353 14.7229 5.84857 14.1943 6.39829L12.0116 8.58145L12.0115 8.58155C11.7159 8.87739 11.36 9.10617 10.9682 9.25237C10.5764 9.39857 10.1577 9.45878 9.74051 9.42889C9.32337 9.39901 8.91752 9.27975 8.55051 9.07918C8.1835 8.87862 7.8639 8.60146 7.6134 8.26649C7.3722 7.94396 6.91526 7.87807 6.5928 8.11933C6.27034 8.36059 6.20447 8.81763 6.44567 9.14016C6.82142 9.64261 7.30082 10.0584 7.85134 10.3592C8.40186 10.66 9.01062 10.8389 9.63634 10.8838C10.2621 10.9286 10.8901 10.8383 11.4779 10.619C12.0656 10.3997 12.5994 10.0565 13.0429 9.61274L15.2302 7.42494L15.2391 7.4159C16.036 6.59062 16.4769 5.48529 16.467 4.33797C16.457 3.19066 15.9969 2.09316 15.1858 1.28185C14.3746 0.470545 13.2774 0.0103489 12.1303 0.000379039ZM7.29806 5.11625C6.67234 5.07142 6.0443 5.16173 5.45654 5.38103C4.86882 5.60031 4.33502 5.94355 3.89153 6.38727L1.70423 8.57506L1.69534 8.5841C0.898438 9.40939 0.457483 10.5147 0.467451 11.662C0.477418 12.8094 0.937512 13.9069 1.74864 14.7182C2.55976 15.5295 3.65701 15.9897 4.80407 15.9996C5.95113 16.0096 7.05622 15.5685 7.88132 14.7715L7.89035 14.7626L9.13717 13.5155C9.42192 13.2307 9.42192 12.7689 9.13717 12.4841C8.85243 12.1993 8.39077 12.1993 8.10602 12.4841L6.86392 13.7265C6.31432 14.2552 5.57945 14.5477 4.81675 14.5411C4.05204 14.5344 3.32054 14.2276 2.77979 13.6868C2.23904 13.1459 1.93231 12.4142 1.92566 11.6494C1.91904 10.8865 2.21146 10.1514 2.74011 9.60172L4.92287 7.41846C5.21854 7.12262 5.57437 6.89384 5.96621 6.74763C6.35805 6.60143 6.77674 6.54123 7.19389 6.57111C7.61104 6.601 8.01688 6.72026 8.38389 6.92082C8.75091 7.12138 9.0705 7.39855 9.32101 7.73352C9.56221 8.05605 10.0191 8.12194 10.3416 7.88068C10.6641 7.63942 10.7299 7.18238 10.4887 6.85985C10.113 6.3574 9.63359 5.94165 9.08307 5.64081C8.53255 5.33997 7.92378 5.16107 7.29806 5.11625Z"></path>&lt;g&gt;&lt;svg&gt;&lt;div&gt;<div translated="" class="pencraft pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-secondary--WRADg frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-14--Ume6q frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-normal--s54Wf frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ frontend-pencraft-Text-module__body4--Pl3xY">Copy link</div>&lt;button&gt;<button tabIndex="0" type="button" class="button share-action"><div class="action-icon"><svg role="img" width="16" height="17" viewBox="0 0 16 17" fill="none" stroke-width="1.8" stroke="#000" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M10.6543 1.38723C10.3533 0.960814 9.95383 0.61341 9.48976 0.374567C9.02902 0.137956 8.51908 0.0130716 8.00115 0.0100098C7.86087 0.0101844 7.72354 0.0502687 7.60519 0.125581C7.48684 0.200893 7.39237 0.308324 7.3328 0.435326L5.00368 5.67077H3.029C2.72335 5.66964 2.42059 5.73003 2.13876 5.84833C1.85692 5.96663 1.60177 6.14043 1.38849 6.35938C1.16707 6.57502 0.991841 6.83346 0.873459 7.11897C0.755078 7.40447 0.696022 7.71108 0.699885 8.02014V13.691C0.699885 14.3087 0.945273 14.9012 1.38207 15.338C1.81886 15.7747 2.41128 16.0201 3.029 16.0201H13.348C13.8951 16.021 14.425 15.8283 14.8438 15.4762C15.2626 15.1241 15.5434 14.6352 15.6366 14.0961L16.6493 8.4252C16.7252 8.09192 16.7252 7.74582 16.6493 7.41254C16.566 7.08205 16.4104 6.7742 16.1936 6.51128C15.9746 6.25 15.7017 6.03926 15.3936 5.89355C15.0762 5.7467 14.7306 5.67068 14.3809 5.67077H10.5328L11.0391 4.37457C11.2397 3.88784 11.3162 3.35894 11.2619 2.83533C11.1853 2.30894 10.9763 1.81065 10.6543 1.38723ZM4.75052 14.5518H3.029C2.91049 14.5525 2.79303 14.5296 2.68349 14.4844C2.57394 14.4392 2.47452 14.3726 2.39102 14.2885C2.23609 14.1199 2.14945 13.8997 2.14799 13.6708V8.02014C2.14913 7.901 2.17389 7.78328 2.22082 7.67377C2.26775 7.56427 2.33592 7.46515 2.4214 7.38216C2.50369 7.29576 2.60267 7.22698 2.71233 7.17998C2.822 7.13298 2.94007 7.10874 3.05938 7.10874H4.7809L4.75052 14.5518ZM10.6746 7.05811H14.3809C14.5145 7.05821 14.6462 7.08942 14.7657 7.14925C14.8875 7.20532 14.9948 7.28845 15.0796 7.39229C15.1675 7.49052 15.2301 7.60871 15.2619 7.73659C15.2922 7.8665 15.2922 8.00162 15.2619 8.13153L14.2493 13.8024C14.2087 14.017 14.094 14.2106 13.9252 14.3492C13.7619 14.4812 13.558 14.5528 13.348 14.5518H6.19862V6.45052L8.43659 1.38723H8.52773C8.9042 1.50037 9.23304 1.73413 9.4636 2.05252C9.69416 2.37092 9.81365 2.75627 9.80368 3.14925C9.8181 3.39741 9.78015 3.64583 9.69229 3.87836L9.23659 5.04292C9.15397 5.273 9.12623 5.51921 9.15558 5.76191C9.1877 6.00427 9.27425 6.23623 9.40875 6.44039C9.5535 6.6376 9.74028 6.80017 9.95558 6.91634C10.1774 7.03206 10.4244 7.0912 10.6746 7.08849V7.05811Z"></path></g></svg></div><div translated="" class="pencraft pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-secondary--WRADg frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-14--Ume6q frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-normal--s54Wf frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ frontend-pencraft-Text-module__body4--Pl3xY">Facebook</div></button><button tabIndex="0" type="button" class="button share-action"><div class="action-icon"><svg role="img" width="21" height="16" viewBox="0 0 21 16" fill="none" stroke-width="1.8" stroke="#000" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M2.22192 2.20503C2.36754 1.77115 2.78269 1.45455 3.26639 1.45455H17.9332C18.4169 1.45455 18.8321 1.77118 18.9777 2.2051L10.5999 8.02107L2.22192 2.20503ZM2.16639 3.94198V13.4545C2.16639 14.0529 2.66307 14.5455 3.26639 14.5455H17.9332C18.5365 14.5455 19.0332 14.0529 19.0332 13.4545V3.94206L11.0204 9.50462C10.7679 9.67991 10.4318 9.67991 10.1793 9.50462L2.16639 3.94198ZM20.4999 2.55809V13.4545C20.4999 14.8562 19.3465 16 17.9332 16H3.26639C1.85304 16 0.699707 14.8562 0.699707 13.4545V2.54545C0.699707 1.14379 1.85304 0 3.26639 0H17.9332C19.3407 0 20.4904 1.13441 20.4998 2.52818C20.5 2.53816 20.5001 2.54813 20.4999 2.55809Z"></path></g></svg></div><div translated="" class="pencraft pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-secondary--WRADg frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-14--Ume6q frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-normal--s54Wf frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ frontend-pencraft-Text-module__body4--Pl3xY">Email</div></button><button tabIndex="0" type="button" class="button share-action"><div class="action-icon"><svg role="img" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke-width="1.8" stroke="#000" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M6.785 1.92766C5.45134 1.57031 4.08049 2.36176 3.72314 3.69543L0.444815 15.9303C0.0874636 17.264 0.878901 18.6348 2.21255 18.9922L5.37495 19.8396V7.66664C5.37495 6.40099 6.40096 5.37498 7.66661 5.37498H19.4723C19.3299 5.30548 19.1788 5.24858 19.0201 5.20604L6.785 1.92766Z" stroke="none"></path><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M8.44161 7.4C7.86632 7.4 7.39995 7.86637 7.39995 8.44167V22.1081C7.39995 22.6834 7.86631 23.1498 8.4416 23.1498L22.1083 23.15C22.6836 23.15 23.1499 22.6836 23.1499 22.1083V8.44167C23.1499 7.86637 22.6836 7.4 22.1083 7.4H8.44161ZM10.3999 9.65C9.84766 9.65 9.39995 10.0977 9.39995 10.65C9.39995 11.2023 9.84766 11.65 10.3999 11.65H18.3999C18.9522 11.65 19.3999 11.2023 19.3999 10.65C19.3999 10.0977 18.9522 9.65 18.3999 9.65H10.3999ZM10.3999 14.15C9.84766 14.15 9.39995 14.5977 9.39995 15.15C9.39995 15.7023 9.84766 16.15 10.3999 16.15H15.3999C15.9522 16.15 16.3999 15.7023 16.3999 15.15C16.3999 14.5977 15.9522 14.15 15.3999 14.15H10.3999Z" stroke="none"></path></g></svg></div><div class="pencraft pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-secondary--WRADg frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-14--Ume6q frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-normal--s54Wf frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ frontend-pencraft-Text-module__body4--Pl3xY">Note</div></button><button tabIndex="0" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-controls="dialog547366" ariaLabel="View more" type="button" class="button share-action"><div class="action-icon"><svg role="img" width="100" height="100" viewBox="0 0 100 100" fill="none" stroke-width="1.8" stroke="#000" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><circle cx="23" cy="50" r="9"></circle><circle cx="50" cy="50" r="9"></circle><circle cx="77" cy="50" r="9"></circle></g></svg></div><div translated="" class="pencraft pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-secondary--WRADg frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-14--Ume6q frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-normal--s54Wf frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ frontend-pencraft-Text-module__body4--Pl3xY">Other</div></button>&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;<div class="post-header"><h1 class="post-title unpublished">Software engineers and the law</h1><h3 class="subtitle">Never ask a lawyer a boolean question</h3><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-flexDirection-column pc-paddingBottom-16 pc-reset"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-flexDirection-column pc-paddingTop-16 pc-paddingBottom-16 pc-reset"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-12 pc-alignItems-center pc-reset byline-wrapper"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-reset"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-alignItems-center frontend-pencraft-Box-module__flexGrow--mx4xz pc-reset facepile"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-alignItems-center pc-reset"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-alignItems-center pc-reset frontend-components-Facepile-module__faces--FVkdk frontend-components-Facepile-module__size-40--pH6IT"><div class="profile-hover-card-target frontend-reader2-ProfileAndPublicationHoverCard-module__profileHoverCardTarget--Od_YL"><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//substack.com/profile/18765961-jos-visser" rel="nofollow" class="pencraft pc-display-flex frontend-pencraft-Box-module__flexAuto--CnX9I pc-reset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_80,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa5dbaec0-8262-48ae-b752-17838a462f6d_728x728.jpeg"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_80,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https:%2f%2fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2fpublic%2fimages%2fa5dbaec0-8262-48ae-b752-17838a462f6d_728x728.jpeg" sizes="100vw" alt="" style="z-index: 1;" width="80" class="frontend-components-responsive_img-module__img--Pgjj2 facepile-face frontend-components-Facepile-module__face--uAQkp frontend-components-Facepile-module__size-40--pH6IT frontend-components-Facepile-module__first--TZamh frontend-components-Facepile-module__last--DT3p3 pencraft pc-reset"></picture></a></div></div></div></div></div><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-flexDirection-column pc-reset"><div class="pencraft pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-pub-primary-text--RzL7j frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-meta--U_nxy frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-11--k1e8b frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-medium--x7khA frontend-pencraft-Text-module__transform-uppercase--IDkUL frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ frontend-pencraft-Text-module__meta--jzHdd"><div class="profile-hover-card-target frontend-reader2-ProfileAndPublicationHoverCard-module__profileHoverCardTarget--Od_YL"><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//substack.com/%40josvisser" class="pencraft pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Text-module__decoration-hover-underline--BEYAn frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ" rel="nofollow">Jos Visser</a></div></div><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-4 pc-reset"><div class="pencraft pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-pub-secondary-text--OzRTa frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-meta--U_nxy frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-11--k1e8b frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-medium--x7khA frontend-pencraft-Text-module__transform-uppercase--IDkUL frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ frontend-pencraft-Text-module__meta--jzHdd">Feb 7, 2024</div></div></div></div></div><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-16 pc-paddingTop-16 pc-paddingBottom-16 pc-justifyContent-space-between pc-alignItems-center frontend-pencraft-Box-module__flexGrow--mx4xz pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Box-module__border-top-detail-themed--e17yZ frontend-pencraft-Box-module__border-bottom-detail-themed--eVwFY post-ufi"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><div class="like-button-container post-ufi-button style-button"><a role="button" class="post-ufi-button style-button has-label with-border"><svg role="img" style="height: 20px; width: 20px;" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="#000000" stroke-width="2" stroke="#000" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="icon"><g><title></title><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-heart "><path d="M19 14c1.49-1.46 3-3.21 3-5.5A5.5 5.5 0 0 0 16.5 3c-1.76 0-3 .5-4.5 2-1.5-1.5-2.74-2-4.5-2A5.5 5.5 0 0 0 2 8.5c0 2.3 1.5 4.05 3 5.5l7 7Z"></path></svg></g></svg><div class="label">3</div></a><div inert="" role="dialog" class="modal typography out gone share-dialog popup"><div class="modal-table"><div class="modal-row"><div class="modal-cell modal-content no-fullscreen"><div class="container"><button tabIndex="0" type="button" data-testid="close-modal" class="pencraft modal-btn modal-exit-btn no-margin frontend-pencraft-Button-module__iconButton--xpBoH frontend-pencraft-Button-module__buttonBase--T0hXz frontend-pencraft-Button-module__size_40--RASvV frontend-pencraft-Button-module__priority_secondary--UEXV6 frontend-pencraft-Button-module__fill_empty--OPYgN frontend-pencraft-Button-module__rounded--D6jfD"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="secondary" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-x "><path d="M18 6 6 18"></path><path d="m6 6 12 12"></path></svg></button><div class="share-dialog-title">Share this post</div><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-flexDirection-column pc-gap-32 pc-paddingLeft-24 pc-paddingRight-24 pc-paddingTop-32 pc-paddingBottom-48 pc-reset"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-padding-8 pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Box-module__border-detail--MiH57 pc-borderRadius-medium social-preview-box post"><div class="social-image-box"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_120,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2b23a03-79f5-42b8-94e8-63efab7b9757_1024x1024.jpeg"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_120,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https:%2f%2fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2fpublic%2fimages%2fc2b23a03-79f5-42b8-94e8-63efab7b9757_1024x1024.jpeg" sizes="100vw" alt="" loading="lazy" width="120" class="frontend-components-responsive_img-module__img--Pgjj2 social-image pencraft pc-reset"></picture></div><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-flexDirection-column pc-paddingTop-8 pc-paddingBottom-8 pc-paddingLeft-12 pc-reset"><h4 class="pencraft pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-primary--ud4Z0 frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-16--fFowu frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-bold--Ps9DB frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ frontend-pencraft-Text-module__header4--hH3cg">Software engineers and the law</h4><div class="pencraft pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-secondary--WRADg frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-14--Ume6q frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-normal--s54Wf frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ frontend-pencraft-Text-module__body4--Pl3xY">josvisser.substack.com</div></div></div><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-justifyContent-space-between pc-reset share-dialog-buttons-wrapper"><button tabIndex="0" type="button" class="button share-action"><div class="action-icon"><svg role="img" width="20" height="16" viewBox="0 0 20 16" fill="none" stroke-width="1.8" stroke="#000" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M12.1303 0.000379039C10.9833 -0.00959082 9.87819 0.431464 9.05309 1.22855L9.04556 1.23593L7.79145 2.48303C7.50587 2.767 7.50453 3.22877 7.78844 3.51441C8.07235 3.80004 8.53401 3.80139 8.81959 3.51741L10.0698 2.27423C10.6194 1.74503 11.3546 1.45229 12.1177 1.45892C12.8824 1.46556 13.6139 1.77236 14.1546 2.31323C14.6954 2.8541 15.0021 3.58577 15.0087 4.35065C15.0154 5.11353 14.7229 5.84857 14.1943 6.39829L12.0116 8.58145L12.0115 8.58155C11.7159 8.87739 11.36 9.10617 10.9682 9.25237C10.5764 9.39857 10.1577 9.45878 9.74051 9.42889C9.32337 9.39901 8.91752 9.27975 8.55051 9.07918C8.1835 8.87862 7.8639 8.60146 7.6134 8.26649C7.3722 7.94396 6.91526 7.87807 6.5928 8.11933C6.27034 8.36059 6.20447 8.81763 6.44567 9.14016C6.82142 9.64261 7.30082 10.0584 7.85134 10.3592C8.40186 10.66 9.01062 10.8389 9.63634 10.8838C10.2621 10.9286 10.8901 10.8383 11.4779 10.619C12.0656 10.3997 12.5994 10.0565 13.0429 9.61274L15.2302 7.42494L15.2391 7.4159C16.036 6.59062 16.4769 5.48529 16.467 4.33797C16.457 3.19066 15.9969 2.09316 15.1858 1.28185C14.3746 0.470545 13.2774 0.0103489 12.1303 0.000379039ZM7.29806 5.11625C6.67234 5.07142 6.0443 5.16173 5.45654 5.38103C4.86882 5.60031 4.33502 5.94355 3.89153 6.38727L1.70423 8.57506L1.69534 8.5841C0.898438 9.40939 0.457483 10.5147 0.467451 11.662C0.477418 12.8094 0.937512 13.9069 1.74864 14.7182C2.55976 15.5295 3.65701 15.9897 4.80407 15.9996C5.95113 16.0096 7.05622 15.5685 7.88132 14.7715L7.89035 14.7626L9.13717 13.5155C9.42192 13.2307 9.42192 12.7689 9.13717 12.4841C8.85243 12.1993 8.39077 12.1993 8.10602 12.4841L6.86392 13.7265C6.31432 14.2552 5.57945 14.5477 4.81675 14.5411C4.05204 14.5344 3.32054 14.2276 2.77979 13.6868C2.23904 13.1459 1.93231 12.4142 1.92566 11.6494C1.91904 10.8865 2.21146 10.1514 2.74011 9.60172L4.92287 7.41846C5.21854 7.12262 5.57437 6.89384 5.96621 6.74763C6.35805 6.60143 6.77674 6.54123 7.19389 6.57111C7.61104 6.601 8.01688 6.72026 8.38389 6.92082C8.75091 7.12138 9.0705 7.39855 9.32101 7.73352C9.56221 8.05605 10.0191 8.12194 10.3416 7.88068C10.6641 7.63942 10.7299 7.18238 10.4887 6.85985C10.113 6.3574 9.63359 5.94165 9.08307 5.64081C8.53255 5.33997 7.92378 5.16107 7.29806 5.11625Z"></path></g></svg></div><div translated="" class="pencraft pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-secondary--WRADg frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-14--Ume6q frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-normal--s54Wf frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ frontend-pencraft-Text-module__body4--Pl3xY">Copy link</div></button><button tabIndex="0" type="button" class="button share-action"><div class="action-icon"><svg role="img" width="16" height="17" viewBox="0 0 16 17" fill="none" stroke-width="1.8" stroke="#000" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M10.6543 1.38723C10.3533 0.960814 9.95383 0.61341 9.48976 0.374567C9.02902 0.137956 8.51908 0.0130716 8.00115 0.0100098C7.86087 0.0101844 7.72354 0.0502687 7.60519 0.125581C7.48684 0.200893 7.39237 0.308324 7.3328 0.435326L5.00368 5.67077H3.029C2.72335 5.66964 2.42059 5.73003 2.13876 5.84833C1.85692 5.96663 1.60177 6.14043 1.38849 6.35938C1.16707 6.57502 0.991841 6.83346 0.873459 7.11897C0.755078 7.40447 0.696022 7.71108 0.699885 8.02014V13.691C0.699885 14.3087 0.945273 14.9012 1.38207 15.338C1.81886 15.7747 2.41128 16.0201 3.029 16.0201H13.348C13.8951 16.021 14.425 15.8283 14.8438 15.4762C15.2626 15.1241 15.5434 14.6352 15.6366 14.0961L16.6493 8.4252C16.7252 8.09192 16.7252 7.74582 16.6493 7.41254C16.566 7.08205 16.4104 6.7742 16.1936 6.51128C15.9746 6.25 15.7017 6.03926 15.3936 5.89355C15.0762 5.7467 14.7306 5.67068 14.3809 5.67077H10.5328L11.0391 4.37457C11.2397 3.88784 11.3162 3.35894 11.2619 2.83533C11.1853 2.30894 10.9763 1.81065 10.6543 1.38723ZM4.75052 14.5518H3.029C2.91049 14.5525 2.79303 14.5296 2.68349 14.4844C2.57394 14.4392 2.47452 14.3726 2.39102 14.2885C2.23609 14.1199 2.14945 13.8997 2.14799 13.6708V8.02014C2.14913 7.901 2.17389 7.78328 2.22082 7.67377C2.26775 7.56427 2.33592 7.46515 2.4214 7.38216C2.50369 7.29576 2.60267 7.22698 2.71233 7.17998C2.822 7.13298 2.94007 7.10874 3.05938 7.10874H4.7809L4.75052 14.5518ZM10.6746 7.05811H14.3809C14.5145 7.05821 14.6462 7.08942 14.7657 7.14925C14.8875 7.20532 14.9948 7.28845 15.0796 7.39229C15.1675 7.49052 15.2301 7.60871 15.2619 7.73659C15.2922 7.8665 15.2922 8.00162 15.2619 8.13153L14.2493 13.8024C14.2087 14.017 14.094 14.2106 13.9252 14.3492C13.7619 14.4812 13.558 14.5528 13.348 14.5518H6.19862V6.45052L8.43659 1.38723H8.52773C8.9042 1.50037 9.23304 1.73413 9.4636 2.05252C9.69416 2.37092 9.81365 2.75627 9.80368 3.14925C9.8181 3.39741 9.78015 3.64583 9.69229 3.87836L9.23659 5.04292C9.15397 5.273 9.12623 5.51921 9.15558 5.76191C9.1877 6.00427 9.27425 6.23623 9.40875 6.44039C9.5535 6.6376 9.74028 6.80017 9.95558 6.91634C10.1774 7.03206 10.4244 7.0912 10.6746 7.08849V7.05811Z"></path></g></svg></div><div translated="" class="pencraft pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-secondary--WRADg frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-14--Ume6q frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-normal--s54Wf frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ frontend-pencraft-Text-module__body4--Pl3xY">Facebook</div></button><button tabIndex="0" type="button" class="button share-action"><div class="action-icon"><svg role="img" width="21" height="16" viewBox="0 0 21 16" fill="none" stroke-width="1.8" stroke="#000" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M2.22192 2.20503C2.36754 1.77115 2.78269 1.45455 3.26639 1.45455H17.9332C18.4169 1.45455 18.8321 1.77118 18.9777 2.2051L10.5999 8.02107L2.22192 2.20503ZM2.16639 3.94198V13.4545C2.16639 14.0529 2.66307 14.5455 3.26639 14.5455H17.9332C18.5365 14.5455 19.0332 14.0529 19.0332 13.4545V3.94206L11.0204 9.50462C10.7679 9.67991 10.4318 9.67991 10.1793 9.50462L2.16639 3.94198ZM20.4999 2.55809V13.4545C20.4999 14.8562 19.3465 16 17.9332 16H3.26639C1.85304 16 0.699707 14.8562 0.699707 13.4545V2.54545C0.699707 1.14379 1.85304 0 3.26639 0H17.9332C19.3407 0 20.4904 1.13441 20.4998 2.52818C20.5 2.53816 20.5001 2.54813 20.4999 2.55809Z"></path></g></svg></div><div translated="" class="pencraft pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-secondary--WRADg frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-14--Ume6q frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-normal--s54Wf frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ frontend-pencraft-Text-module__body4--Pl3xY">Email</div></button><button tabIndex="0" type="button" class="button share-action"><div class="action-icon"><svg role="img" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke-width="1.8" stroke="#000" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M6.785 1.92766C5.45134 1.57031 4.08049 2.36176 3.72314 3.69543L0.444815 15.9303C0.0874636 17.264 0.878901 18.6348 2.21255 18.9922L5.37495 19.8396V7.66664C5.37495 6.40099 6.40096 5.37498 7.66661 5.37498H19.4723C19.3299 5.30548 19.1788 5.24858 19.0201 5.20604L6.785 1.92766Z" stroke="none"></path><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M8.44161 7.4C7.86632 7.4 7.39995 7.86637 7.39995 8.44167V22.1081C7.39995 22.6834 7.86631 23.1498 8.4416 23.1498L22.1083 23.15C22.6836 23.15 23.1499 22.6836 23.1499 22.1083V8.44167C23.1499 7.86637 22.6836 7.4 22.1083 7.4H8.44161ZM10.3999 9.65C9.84766 9.65 9.39995 10.0977 9.39995 10.65C9.39995 11.2023 9.84766 11.65 10.3999 11.65H18.3999C18.9522 11.65 19.3999 11.2023 19.3999 10.65C19.3999 10.0977 18.9522 9.65 18.3999 9.65H10.3999ZM10.3999 14.15C9.84766 14.15 9.39995 14.5977 9.39995 15.15C9.39995 15.7023 9.84766 16.15 10.3999 16.15H15.3999C15.9522 16.15 16.3999 15.7023 16.3999 15.15C16.3999 14.5977 15.9522 14.15 15.3999 14.15H10.3999Z" stroke="none"></path></g></svg></div><div class="pencraft pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-secondary--WRADg frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-14--Ume6q frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-normal--s54Wf frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ frontend-pencraft-Text-module__body4--Pl3xY">Note</div></button><button tabIndex="0" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-controls="dialog547368" ariaLabel="View more" type="button" class="button share-action"><div class="action-icon"><svg role="img" width="100" height="100" viewBox="0 0 100 100" fill="none" stroke-width="1.8" stroke="#000" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><circle cx="23" cy="50" r="9"></circle><circle cx="50" cy="50" r="9"></circle><circle cx="77" cy="50" r="9"></circle></g></svg></div><div translated="" class="pencraft pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-secondary--WRADg frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-14--Ume6q frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-normal--s54Wf frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ frontend-pencraft-Text-module__body4--Pl3xY">Other</div></button></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><a role="button" href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//josvisser.substack.com/p/software-engineers-and-the-law/comments" class="post-ufi-button style-button post-ufi-comment-button no-label with-border" rel="nofollow"><svg role="img" style="height: 20px; width: 20px;" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="#000000" stroke-width="2" stroke="#000" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="icon"><g><title></title><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-message-circle "><path d="M7.9 20A9 9 0 1 0 4 16.1L2 22Z"></path></svg></g></svg></a></div><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><a role="button" href="void(0)" class="post-ufi-button style-button no-icon has-label with-border"><div class="label">Share</div></a></div></div></div></div><div class="visibility-check"></div><div class=""><div class="available-content"><div dir="auto" class="body markup"><p><em><span>(Like this article? Read more </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//josvisser.substack.com/" rel="nofollow">Wednesday Wisdom</a><span>!)</span></em></p><p>Many of you will know that I hold a (Dutch) law degree. This came about as follows: When I was younger and started studying computer science, many people told me that toying with computers was all well and good, but eventually one would get sick and tired of that and what are you going to do then? With that in the back of my mind, I was always slightly worried that I would eventually need a second career.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p><em>Right now my second career is writing Wednesday Wisdom, though not one I am making a lot of money with. Subscribe for free today!</em></p></div><div data-component-name="SubscribeWidget" class="subscribe-widget"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-justifyContent-center pc-reset"><div class="frontend-components-free_email_form-module__container--OfBh4"><div noValidate="" class="form frontend-components-free_email_form-module__form--LDIzl"><input type="hidden" name="first_url"><input type="hidden" name="first_referrer"><input type="hidden" name="current_url"><input type="hidden" name="current_referrer"><input type="hidden" name="referral_code"><input type="hidden" name="source" value="subscribe-widget-preamble"><input type="hidden" name="referring_pub_id"><input type="hidden" name="additional_referring_pub_ids"><div class="frontend-components-free_email_form-module__sideBySideWrap--yhsgv"><div class="frontend-components-free_email_form-module__emailInputWrapper--BXNrb"><input type="email" name="email" placeholder="Type your email..." class="pencraft frontend-components-free_email_form-module__emailInput--BLQGf"></div><button tabIndex="0" type="submit" class="button rightButton primary subscribe-btn frontend-components-free_email_form-module__button--WcLG9"><span class="button-text ">Subscribe</span></button></div><div></div></div><div class="frontend-login-typo_handler-EmailTypoHandler-module__animationWrapper--UT0du"></div></div></div></div></div></div><p><span>Then, in the early 2000s, I was attending a conference where the head of the cybercrime division of the Dutch national police was giving a presentation. As he told it, they typically spent </span><em>more</em><span> time explaining the case to the prosecutor than they spent solving the case in the first place.</span></p><blockquote><p><span>And at that time half the cases were people selling stolen goods on the </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//www.marktplaats.nl/" rel="nofollow">Dutch eBay clone</a><span>. As the cybercrime czar explained it, they found these cases by doing searches for “fallen from the back of the truck” and “without VAT invoice.”</span></p></blockquote><p><span>A light bulb went on in my head: Surely there must be a market for a lawyer with an in-depth knowledge of computers! Holding on to that thought, I registered for </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//www.ou.nl/-/rb3412_inleiding-recht-kern-van-het-recht" rel="nofollow">the introductory course</a><span> of the law faculty of the Dutch (distance learning) Open University and started my legal education.</span></p><p>Pretty soon after starting I figured out four things:</p><ol><li><p>The law is really interesting! 👍</p></li><li><p>I still liked toying with computers. 👍 </p></li><li><p>I didn’t really like the parts of the law that were money spinners. 👎</p></li><li><p><span>The parts of the law that I liked were </span><strong>not</strong><span> money spinners. 👎</span></p></li></ol><p>So all in all I never made the career switch and instead I use my law degree to help friends and family get married and divorced.</p><div class="pullquote"><p>The name of my informal law firm is “May divorce be with you”.</p></div><blockquote><p><span>I </span><strong>did</strong><span> get to use my computer science knowledge during my master thesis which was about the fascinating topic of </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DCVIVsb6VBpA" rel="nofollow">Predictive Policing</a><span>.</span></p></blockquote><p><span>One of the things I learned during my legal education is that software engineers </span><em>could</em><span> be good at law but are typically </span><em>bad</em><span> at it.</span></p><p><span>They could be </span><em>good</em><span> at it because many concepts of law come back in computer science and the other way round. For instance our system of law is a hierarchy of rules where a lower set of rules (e.g. municipal bylaws) typically cannot overrule a higher set of rules (like the constitution). This neatly maps onto the concepts of layers in the operating system (like hypervisors, virtual machines, and containers) where code running at a lower layer cannot break out of it to influence things at the higher level. </span></p><p><span>The law is also full of common definitions and pointers. For instance in the basic Dutch administrative code there is a common definition of a decision made by an organ of the state. This definition applies throughout the administrative code and the rules relating to a decision (such as how to appeal, where to appeal, within what timeframe to appeal) are enforced in the same way everywhere. So the </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0040940/2021-07-01" rel="nofollow">Dutch law on the implementation of the GDPR</a><span> can simply state that a decision (or lack thereof) of the Supervisory Authority is a decision as defined in the administrative code, and we automatically pull in all the relevant rules without a need to specify them again.</span></p><p>All of these are things that programmers can deal with really well because in many ways these are also the principles that govern our field.</p><p><span>However programmers are often </span><em>bad</em><span> at law because once they understand the law as a system of rules, they take it to the logical extreme and forget that at the end of the day, </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//www.manhattanrarebooks.com/pages/books/2247/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/the-common-law%3FsoldItem%3Dtrue%23%3A~%3Atext%3DHolmes%27s%2520break%2520with%2520the%2520a,work%2520of%2520American%2520legal%2520scholarship." rel="nofollow">the life of the law is experience, not logic</a><span> (quoting </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Wendell_Holmes_Jr." rel="nofollow">Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr</a><span>).</span></p><p><span>For instance many software engineers seem not to understand that proof in a court of law is something else than proof in mathematics. In math, proof means that you have an irrefutable line of argumentation that supports your statement. If you have some of the reasoning but not 100% a solid argument, you might have a </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conjecture" rel="nofollow">conjecture</a><span>, but no evidence and therefore no proof. In law on the other hand “proof” often just means that you managed to convince a judge or a jury. Uncertainty is often allowed, and the two major standards of proof in the US legal system specifically allow for that uncertainty. For instance when my wife was on jury duty recently the judge specifically explained that “</span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//thedefenders.net/blogs/beyond-reasonable-doubt/%23%3A~%3Atext%3DBeyond%2520reasonable%2520doubt%2520is%2520considered,proven%2520beyond%2520any%2520possible%2520question." rel="nofollow">beyond reasonable doubt</a><span>” did not mean there was </span><strong>no</strong><span> doubt. In US civil trials the situation is even more dire because the standard there is “</span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//www.law.cornell.edu/wex/preponderance_of_the_evidence%23%3A~%3Atext%3DPreponderance%2520of%2520the%2520evidence%2520is,that%2520the%2520claim%2520is%2520true." rel="nofollow">preponderance of the evidence</a><span>”, which just means that it is more likely than not.</span></p><p>I regularly come across software engineers who argue some legal point from the perspective of an absolute standard of proof. For instance, during a conference some time ago there was a panel discussion about the (then) latest proposal from the government to ban encryption.</p><blockquote><p><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//www.wired.com/story/europe-break-encryption-leaked-document-csa-law/" rel="nofollow">They</a><span> </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//www.wsj.com/articles/encryption-bans-what-is-this-russia-hacking-online-privacy-security-data-signal-whatsapp-emails-protection-11675436242" rel="nofollow">try</a><span> </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//www.theregister.com/2023/04/18/wrong_time_to_weaken_encryption/" rel="nofollow">this</a><span> </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4051" rel="nofollow">with</a><span> </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//tuta.com/blog/posts/earn-it-barr-encryption" rel="nofollow">disconcerting</a><span> </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//archive.epic.org/crypto/ban/" rel="nofollow">regularity</a><span>.</span></p></blockquote><p><span>One of the questions was how to prove that a data stream was encrypted. A well-known Dutch computer scientist got up and made the point that it is impossible to prove that a data stream containing seemingly random data is encrypted, since it might as well be a set of random “</span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=http%3A//playbridge.com/" rel="nofollow">bridge hands</a><span>” (a set of randomly shuffled cards in a client/server </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract_bridge" rel="nofollow">bridge</a><span> game). This argument fundamentally misunderstands how courts work; the fact that it is not possible to </span><em>disprove</em><span> a statement does not mean that the court will reject it as true.</span></p><p>Another thing that I regularly come across is engineers making bold statements about what the law is based on (at best) a limited understanding of some specific rules.</p><p><span>When reasoning about code we are greatly helped by crisply defined interfaces. When debugging my little program that runs on Unix I can typically do so effectively without having an in-depth understanding of </span><em>all</em><span> the code of the kernel and the C libraries that my program is using. In decent code I can often limit my analysis to just the function or the module I am looking at. In law on the other hand, it is hard to reason about </span><em>some</em><span> of it without knowing a lot about </span><em>all</em><span> of it. And “a lot” often also means having more than passing knowledge of any related court decisions, otherwise authoritative considerations, memorandums of understanding, and the record of the parliamentary debate where the law was voted on.</span></p><p>I regularly hear engineers make far-reaching statements on some legal topic that really need more research.</p><p><span>Here is an example: Some time ago I listened to a tech podcast where one of the podcast makers had parked his car without paying the parking fee. His parked car was subsequently scanned and he received a fine in the mail. In the ensuing conflict with the city he asked for access to these records (per </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//gdpr-info.eu/art-15-gdpr/" rel="nofollow">article 15 of the GDPR</a><span>). The city denied this because (according to them) your car license plate number is not personal data. This enraged the engineer greatly and he stated flat out that car license plate numbers </span><em>are</em><span> personal data. Full stop. </span></p><p><span>These are the kind of questions that law students spend an entire semester on to learn the intricacies of when something is personal data and when not. It turns out that this is a really complicated question, the answer to which depends on many details that are not at all obvious and which require a thorough reading and understanding of the law and of European Union Court of Justice cases like </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//curia.europa.eu/juris/liste.jsf%3Fnum%3DC-434/16" rel="nofollow">C-434/16 (Nowak)</a><span> and </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//curia.europa.eu/juris/liste.jsf%3Fnum%3DC-582/14" rel="nofollow">C-582/14 (Breyer)</a><span>.</span></p><blockquote><p>One thing I still don’t understand is why the city just didn’t give access to the engineer’s data, since it cannot have been much more than they already sent in the citation: The car license plate number and the name and address of the car’s registration owner.</p></blockquote><p><span>The problem that many software engineers have reading the law is that, in contrast to math and computer science, the law is full of so-called “</span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//verfassungsblog.de/the-power-of-open-norms/" rel="nofollow">open norms</a><span>”, which is a cool legal term for being vague and nonspecific. If I read the definition of the </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=http%3A//z80-heaven.wikidot.com/instructions-set%3Aldir" rel="nofollow">LDIR</a><span> instruction I know exactly what it does and its meaning or execution do not depend on the unique circumstances of the case in which it is used. Law is completely different. We </span><em>try</em><span> to be as precise as possible when writing rules, but we also know that reality is so diverse and multi-faceted that it is impossible to write up a complete definition of pretty much anything. And consequently we regularly do battle to see whether </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_cryptocurrency_by_country_or_territory" rel="nofollow">Bitcoin is money</a><span>, a </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//www.ngalaw.co.uk/knowledge-centre/transgender-parents-conceiving-children/" rel="nofollow">mother can be a father</a><span>, or </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx%3Fg%3D8c545949-f4f2-4ae7-9155-33e75f36da61" rel="nofollow">a thumbs-up emoji is valid acceptance of a contractual offer</a><span>. For an outsider there is little rhyme or reason to these discussions and results. Sometimes a list of grounds in the law is exhaustive and sometimes it is not. Sometimes a sentence in the law is </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//www.nytimes.com/2018/02/09/us/oxford-comma-maine.html" rel="nofollow">parsed narrowly</a><span> and sometimes it is not. Math and computer science nerds find this hard to deal with and often stick to a very narrow textual analysis of just the law and then taking that written text to its extremes.</span></p><p>Because of this, engineers are also terrible at asking lawyers for advice.</p><p><span>As an engineer I live in a binary world: When I ask another engineer for advice if something works or not, I am expecting a boolean answer. Something is true or it is not. An API supports a particular argument or it does not. An instruction sets the carry flag or it does not. For most code I can literally prove (</span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//course.ccs.neu.edu/cs5002f18-seattle/lects/cs5002_lect11_fall18_notes.pdf" rel="nofollow">mathematically</a><span>) whether it works or not. Consequently, when an engineer asks a lawyer for advice, it is typically a yes/no question: “Is &lt;X&gt; allowed or not?”</span></p><p>That is a terrible question to ask a lawyer.</p><p><span>In the fuzzy world of the law it is really hard to know whether something is allowed or not. In his super funny </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Dd-7o9xYp7eE" rel="nofollow">video</a><span> “Don’t talk to the police” and equally funny and even more informative </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//www.amazon.com/You-Have-Right-Remain-Innocent/dp/1503933393" rel="nofollow">book</a><span> “You have the right to remain innocent”, law professor James Duane makes the point that the world’s laws are so dense, volumous, and vaguely specified that you are basically </span><em>always</em><span> doing something wrong. Really, the only reason that you haven’t been arrested yet is that you haven’t annoyed enough of the right people.</span></p><p><span>It is virtually impossible for a lawyer to say if something is allowed or not. In the words of the aforementioned Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr, </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prediction_theory_of_law" rel="nofollow">the study of law is predicting what the courts will do</a><span> and the best way to address that is never to get to the court in the first place. For that reason lawyers are bound to say “No” to whatever you ask them, thereby minimizing the risk that they find out that the courts actually disagreed with them, to the great discomfort of all involved.</span></p><p>So here is the boss tip at the end of this week’s Wednesday Wisdom: Never ask a lawyer a yes/no question. Instead, tell them: “I am going to do &lt;X&gt;, make it legal”, and then stick to your guns. After trying to convince you not to do it, the lawyer will have to respond with a contract, policy, memo, privacy statement, additional technical measure, or something, anything, to reduce the risk of what you told them you are going to do anyway. It might get you in court under the less than desirable moniker “defendant”, but you are doing lots of things wrong all the time anyway, so when that happens, just chalk it down to karma.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto%3Agood,fl_progressive%3Asteep/https%3A%252f%252fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%252fpublic%252fimages%252f0b861784-310a-4c65-b1a5-bfd86f6f7849_610x66.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM" rel="nofollow"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0b861784-310a-4c65-b1a5-bfd86f6f7849_610x66.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0b861784-310a-4c65-b1a5-bfd86f6f7849_610x66.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0b861784-310a-4c65-b1a5-bfd86f6f7849_610x66.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0b861784-310a-4c65-b1a5-bfd86f6f7849_610x66.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https:%2f%2fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2fpublic%2fimages%2f0b861784-310a-4c65-b1a5-bfd86f6f7849_610x66.png" width="416" height="45.00983606557377" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/0b861784-310a-4c65-b1a5-bfd86f6f7849_610x66.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:66,&quot;width&quot;:610,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:416,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0b861784-310a-4c65-b1a5-bfd86f6f7849_610x66.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0b861784-310a-4c65-b1a5-bfd86f6f7849_610x66.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0b861784-310a-4c65-b1a5-bfd86f6f7849_610x66.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0b861784-310a-4c65-b1a5-bfd86f6f7849_610x66.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><div class="subscription-widget-wrap"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p><em>You can significantly improve your karma by subscribing to Wednesday Wisdom!</em></p></div><div data-component-name="SubscribeWidget" class="subscribe-widget"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-justifyContent-center pc-reset"><div class="frontend-components-free_email_form-module__container--OfBh4"><div noValidate="" class="form frontend-components-free_email_form-module__form--LDIzl"><input type="hidden" name="first_url"><input type="hidden" name="first_referrer"><input type="hidden" name="current_url"><input type="hidden" name="current_referrer"><input type="hidden" name="referral_code"><input type="hidden" name="source" value="subscribe-widget-preamble"><input type="hidden" name="referring_pub_id"><input type="hidden" name="additional_referring_pub_ids"><div class="frontend-components-free_email_form-module__sideBySideWrap--yhsgv"><div class="frontend-components-free_email_form-module__emailInputWrapper--BXNrb"><input type="email" name="email" placeholder="Type your email..." class="pencraft frontend-components-free_email_form-module__emailInput--BLQGf"></div><button tabIndex="0" type="submit" class="button rightButton primary subscribe-btn frontend-components-free_email_form-module__button--WcLG9"><span class="button-text ">Subscribe</span></button></div><div></div></div><div class="frontend-login-typo_handler-EmailTypoHandler-module__animationWrapper--UT0du"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="visibility-check"></div><div class="post-footer"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-16 pc-paddingTop-16 pc-paddingBottom-16 pc-justifyContent-space-between pc-alignItems-center frontend-pencraft-Box-module__flexGrow--mx4xz pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Box-module__border-top-detail-themed--e17yZ frontend-pencraft-Box-module__border-bottom-detail-themed--eVwFY post-ufi"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><div class="like-button-container post-ufi-button style-button"><a role="button" class="post-ufi-button style-button has-label with-border"><svg role="img" style="height: 20px; width: 20px;" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="#000000" stroke-width="2" stroke="#000" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="icon"><g><title></title><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-heart "><path d="M19 14c1.49-1.46 3-3.21 3-5.5A5.5 5.5 0 0 0 16.5 3c-1.76 0-3 .5-4.5 2-1.5-1.5-2.74-2-4.5-2A5.5 5.5 0 0 0 2 8.5c0 2.3 1.5 4.05 3 5.5l7 7Z"></path></svg></g></svg><div class="label">3</div></a><div inert="" role="dialog" class="modal typography out gone share-dialog popup"><div class="modal-table"><div class="modal-row"><div class="modal-cell modal-content no-fullscreen"><div class="container"><button tabIndex="0" type="button" data-testid="close-modal" class="pencraft modal-btn modal-exit-btn no-margin frontend-pencraft-Button-module__iconButton--xpBoH frontend-pencraft-Button-module__buttonBase--T0hXz frontend-pencraft-Button-module__size_40--RASvV frontend-pencraft-Button-module__priority_secondary--UEXV6 frontend-pencraft-Button-module__fill_empty--OPYgN frontend-pencraft-Button-module__rounded--D6jfD"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="secondary" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-x "><path d="M18 6 6 18"></path><path d="m6 6 12 12"></path></svg></button><div class="share-dialog-title">Share this post</div><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-flexDirection-column pc-gap-32 pc-paddingLeft-24 pc-paddingRight-24 pc-paddingTop-32 pc-paddingBottom-48 pc-reset"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-padding-8 pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Box-module__border-detail--MiH57 pc-borderRadius-medium social-preview-box post"><div class="social-image-box"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_120,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc2b23a03-79f5-42b8-94e8-63efab7b9757_1024x1024.jpeg"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_120,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https:%2f%2fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2fpublic%2fimages%2fc2b23a03-79f5-42b8-94e8-63efab7b9757_1024x1024.jpeg" sizes="100vw" alt="" loading="lazy" width="120" class="frontend-components-responsive_img-module__img--Pgjj2 social-image pencraft pc-reset"></picture></div><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-flexDirection-column pc-paddingTop-8 pc-paddingBottom-8 pc-paddingLeft-12 pc-reset"><h4 class="pencraft pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-primary--ud4Z0 frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-16--fFowu frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-bold--Ps9DB frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ frontend-pencraft-Text-module__header4--hH3cg">Software engineers and the law</h4><div class="pencraft pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-secondary--WRADg frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-14--Ume6q frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-normal--s54Wf frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ frontend-pencraft-Text-module__body4--Pl3xY">josvisser.substack.com</div></div></div><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-justifyContent-space-between pc-reset share-dialog-buttons-wrapper"><button tabIndex="0" type="button" class="button share-action"><div class="action-icon"><svg role="img" width="20" height="16" viewBox="0 0 20 16" fill="none" stroke-width="1.8" stroke="#000" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M12.1303 0.000379039C10.9833 -0.00959082 9.87819 0.431464 9.05309 1.22855L9.04556 1.23593L7.79145 2.48303C7.50587 2.767 7.50453 3.22877 7.78844 3.51441C8.07235 3.80004 8.53401 3.80139 8.81959 3.51741L10.0698 2.27423C10.6194 1.74503 11.3546 1.45229 12.1177 1.45892C12.8824 1.46556 13.6139 1.77236 14.1546 2.31323C14.6954 2.8541 15.0021 3.58577 15.0087 4.35065C15.0154 5.11353 14.7229 5.84857 14.1943 6.39829L12.0116 8.58145L12.0115 8.58155C11.7159 8.87739 11.36 9.10617 10.9682 9.25237C10.5764 9.39857 10.1577 9.45878 9.74051 9.42889C9.32337 9.39901 8.91752 9.27975 8.55051 9.07918C8.1835 8.87862 7.8639 8.60146 7.6134 8.26649C7.3722 7.94396 6.91526 7.87807 6.5928 8.11933C6.27034 8.36059 6.20447 8.81763 6.44567 9.14016C6.82142 9.64261 7.30082 10.0584 7.85134 10.3592C8.40186 10.66 9.01062 10.8389 9.63634 10.8838C10.2621 10.9286 10.8901 10.8383 11.4779 10.619C12.0656 10.3997 12.5994 10.0565 13.0429 9.61274L15.2302 7.42494L15.2391 7.4159C16.036 6.59062 16.4769 5.48529 16.467 4.33797C16.457 3.19066 15.9969 2.09316 15.1858 1.28185C14.3746 0.470545 13.2774 0.0103489 12.1303 0.000379039ZM7.29806 5.11625C6.67234 5.07142 6.0443 5.16173 5.45654 5.38103C4.86882 5.60031 4.33502 5.94355 3.89153 6.38727L1.70423 8.57506L1.69534 8.5841C0.898438 9.40939 0.457483 10.5147 0.467451 11.662C0.477418 12.8094 0.937512 13.9069 1.74864 14.7182C2.55976 15.5295 3.65701 15.9897 4.80407 15.9996C5.95113 16.0096 7.05622 15.5685 7.88132 14.7715L7.89035 14.7626L9.13717 13.5155C9.42192 13.2307 9.42192 12.7689 9.13717 12.4841C8.85243 12.1993 8.39077 12.1993 8.10602 12.4841L6.86392 13.7265C6.31432 14.2552 5.57945 14.5477 4.81675 14.5411C4.05204 14.5344 3.32054 14.2276 2.77979 13.6868C2.23904 13.1459 1.93231 12.4142 1.92566 11.6494C1.91904 10.8865 2.21146 10.1514 2.74011 9.60172L4.92287 7.41846C5.21854 7.12262 5.57437 6.89384 5.96621 6.74763C6.35805 6.60143 6.77674 6.54123 7.19389 6.57111C7.61104 6.601 8.01688 6.72026 8.38389 6.92082C8.75091 7.12138 9.0705 7.39855 9.32101 7.73352C9.56221 8.05605 10.0191 8.12194 10.3416 7.88068C10.6641 7.63942 10.7299 7.18238 10.4887 6.85985C10.113 6.3574 9.63359 5.94165 9.08307 5.64081C8.53255 5.33997 7.92378 5.16107 7.29806 5.11625Z"></path></g></svg></div><div translated="" class="pencraft pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-secondary--WRADg frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-14--Ume6q frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-normal--s54Wf frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ frontend-pencraft-Text-module__body4--Pl3xY">Copy link</div></button><button tabIndex="0" type="button" class="button share-action"><div class="action-icon"><svg role="img" width="16" height="17" viewBox="0 0 16 17" fill="none" stroke-width="1.8" stroke="#000" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M10.6543 1.38723C10.3533 0.960814 9.95383 0.61341 9.48976 0.374567C9.02902 0.137956 8.51908 0.0130716 8.00115 0.0100098C7.86087 0.0101844 7.72354 0.0502687 7.60519 0.125581C7.48684 0.200893 7.39237 0.308324 7.3328 0.435326L5.00368 5.67077H3.029C2.72335 5.66964 2.42059 5.73003 2.13876 5.84833C1.85692 5.96663 1.60177 6.14043 1.38849 6.35938C1.16707 6.57502 0.991841 6.83346 0.873459 7.11897C0.755078 7.40447 0.696022 7.71108 0.699885 8.02014V13.691C0.699885 14.3087 0.945273 14.9012 1.38207 15.338C1.81886 15.7747 2.41128 16.0201 3.029 16.0201H13.348C13.8951 16.021 14.425 15.8283 14.8438 15.4762C15.2626 15.1241 15.5434 14.6352 15.6366 14.0961L16.6493 8.4252C16.7252 8.09192 16.7252 7.74582 16.6493 7.41254C16.566 7.08205 16.4104 6.7742 16.1936 6.51128C15.9746 6.25 15.7017 6.03926 15.3936 5.89355C15.0762 5.7467 14.7306 5.67068 14.3809 5.67077H10.5328L11.0391 4.37457C11.2397 3.88784 11.3162 3.35894 11.2619 2.83533C11.1853 2.30894 10.9763 1.81065 10.6543 1.38723ZM4.75052 14.5518H3.029C2.91049 14.5525 2.79303 14.5296 2.68349 14.4844C2.57394 14.4392 2.47452 14.3726 2.39102 14.2885C2.23609 14.1199 2.14945 13.8997 2.14799 13.6708V8.02014C2.14913 7.901 2.17389 7.78328 2.22082 7.67377C2.26775 7.56427 2.33592 7.46515 2.4214 7.38216C2.50369 7.29576 2.60267 7.22698 2.71233 7.17998C2.822 7.13298 2.94007 7.10874 3.05938 7.10874H4.7809L4.75052 14.5518ZM10.6746 7.05811H14.3809C14.5145 7.05821 14.6462 7.08942 14.7657 7.14925C14.8875 7.20532 14.9948 7.28845 15.0796 7.39229C15.1675 7.49052 15.2301 7.60871 15.2619 7.73659C15.2922 7.8665 15.2922 8.00162 15.2619 8.13153L14.2493 13.8024C14.2087 14.017 14.094 14.2106 13.9252 14.3492C13.7619 14.4812 13.558 14.5528 13.348 14.5518H6.19862V6.45052L8.43659 1.38723H8.52773C8.9042 1.50037 9.23304 1.73413 9.4636 2.05252C9.69416 2.37092 9.81365 2.75627 9.80368 3.14925C9.8181 3.39741 9.78015 3.64583 9.69229 3.87836L9.23659 5.04292C9.15397 5.273 9.12623 5.51921 9.15558 5.76191C9.1877 6.00427 9.27425 6.23623 9.40875 6.44039C9.5535 6.6376 9.74028 6.80017 9.95558 6.91634C10.1774 7.03206 10.4244 7.0912 10.6746 7.08849V7.05811Z"></path></g></svg></div><div translated="" class="pencraft pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-secondary--WRADg frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-14--Ume6q frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-normal--s54Wf frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ frontend-pencraft-Text-module__body4--Pl3xY">Facebook</div></button><button tabIndex="0" type="button" class="button share-action"><div class="action-icon"><svg role="img" width="21" height="16" viewBox="0 0 21 16" fill="none" stroke-width="1.8" stroke="#000" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M2.22192 2.20503C2.36754 1.77115 2.78269 1.45455 3.26639 1.45455H17.9332C18.4169 1.45455 18.8321 1.77118 18.9777 2.2051L10.5999 8.02107L2.22192 2.20503ZM2.16639 3.94198V13.4545C2.16639 14.0529 2.66307 14.5455 3.26639 14.5455H17.9332C18.5365 14.5455 19.0332 14.0529 19.0332 13.4545V3.94206L11.0204 9.50462C10.7679 9.67991 10.4318 9.67991 10.1793 9.50462L2.16639 3.94198ZM20.4999 2.55809V13.4545C20.4999 14.8562 19.3465 16 17.9332 16H3.26639C1.85304 16 0.699707 14.8562 0.699707 13.4545V2.54545C0.699707 1.14379 1.85304 0 3.26639 0H17.9332C19.3407 0 20.4904 1.13441 20.4998 2.52818C20.5 2.53816 20.5001 2.54813 20.4999 2.55809Z"></path></g></svg></div><div translated="" class="pencraft pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-secondary--WRADg frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-14--Ume6q frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-normal--s54Wf frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ frontend-pencraft-Text-module__body4--Pl3xY">Email</div></button><button tabIndex="0" type="button" class="button share-action"><div class="action-icon"><svg role="img" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke-width="1.8" stroke="#000" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M6.785 1.92766C5.45134 1.57031 4.08049 2.36176 3.72314 3.69543L0.444815 15.9303C0.0874636 17.264 0.878901 18.6348 2.21255 18.9922L5.37495 19.8396V7.66664C5.37495 6.40099 6.40096 5.37498 7.66661 5.37498H19.4723C19.3299 5.30548 19.1788 5.24858 19.0201 5.20604L6.785 1.92766Z" stroke="none"></path><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M8.44161 7.4C7.86632 7.4 7.39995 7.86637 7.39995 8.44167V22.1081C7.39995 22.6834 7.86631 23.1498 8.4416 23.1498L22.1083 23.15C22.6836 23.15 23.1499 22.6836 23.1499 22.1083V8.44167C23.1499 7.86637 22.6836 7.4 22.1083 7.4H8.44161ZM10.3999 9.65C9.84766 9.65 9.39995 10.0977 9.39995 10.65C9.39995 11.2023 9.84766 11.65 10.3999 11.65H18.3999C18.9522 11.65 19.3999 11.2023 19.3999 10.65C19.3999 10.0977 18.9522 9.65 18.3999 9.65H10.3999ZM10.3999 14.15C9.84766 14.15 9.39995 14.5977 9.39995 15.15C9.39995 15.7023 9.84766 16.15 10.3999 16.15H15.3999C15.9522 16.15 16.3999 15.7023 16.3999 15.15C16.3999 14.5977 15.9522 14.15 15.3999 14.15H10.3999Z" stroke="none"></path></g></svg></div><div class="pencraft pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-secondary--WRADg frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-14--Ume6q frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-normal--s54Wf frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ frontend-pencraft-Text-module__body4--Pl3xY">Note</div></button><button tabIndex="0" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-controls="dialog547372" ariaLabel="View more" type="button" class="button share-action"><div class="action-icon"><svg role="img" width="100" height="100" viewBox="0 0 100 100" fill="none" stroke-width="1.8" stroke="#000" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><circle cx="23" cy="50" r="9"></circle><circle cx="50" cy="50" r="9"></circle><circle cx="77" cy="50" r="9"></circle></g></svg></div><div translated="" class="pencraft pc-reset frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-secondary--WRADg frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-14--Ume6q frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-normal--s54Wf frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ frontend-pencraft-Text-module__body4--Pl3xY">Other</div></button></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><a role="button" href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//josvisser.substack.com/p/software-engineers-and-the-law/comments" class="post-ufi-button style-button post-ufi-comment-button no-label with-border" rel="nofollow"><svg role="img" style="height: 20px; width: 20px;" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="#000000" stroke-width="2" stroke="#000" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="icon"><g><title></title><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-message-circle "><path d="M7.9 20A9 9 0 1 0 4 16.1L2 22Z"></path></svg></g></svg></a></div><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><a role="button" href="void(0)" class="post-ufi-button style-button no-icon has-label with-border"><div class="label">Share</div></a></div></div></div></div>&lt;article&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;<div class="single-post-section comments-section"><div class="container"><div class="comments-section-title">Comments</div><div class="visibility-check"></div><div data-test-id="comment-input" class="pencraft pc-display-flex frontend-pencraft-Box-module__flexGrow--mx4xz pc-reset comment-input-wrap"><div noValidate="" class="form comment-input"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_64,h_64,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack.com%2Fimg%2Favatars%2Flogged-out.png"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_64,h_64,c_fill,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https:%2f%2fsubstack.com%2fimg%2favatars%2flogged-out.png" sizes="100vw" alt="" style="width: 32px; height: 32px;" width="64" height="64" class="frontend-components-responsive_img-module__img--Pgjj2 frontend-reader2-Avatar-module__avatar--nE_uY frontend-components-responsive_img-module__object-fit-cover--l2ul8 pencraft pc-reset"></picture><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-flexDirection-column frontend-pencraft-Box-module__flexGrow--mx4xz pc-reset comment-input-right"><textarea data-gramm="false" data-gramm_editor="false" data-enable-grammarly="false" name="body" placeholder="Write a comment..."></textarea><div></div><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-paddingTop-8 pc-justifyContent-space-between pc-alignItems-center pc-reset"></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="single-post-section"><div class="container"><div class="visibility-check"></div><div class="pencraft pc-paddingTop-24 pc-paddingBottom-24 pc-reset"><div class="portable-archive empty-list"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-paddingLeft-8 pc-paddingRight-8 pc-paddingBottom-16 pc-justifyContent-space-between pc-alignItems-center pc-reset"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><div role="button" class="frontend-pencraft-unstable-PillTabs-module__pillTab--cqGWE frontend-pencraft-unstable-PillTabs-module__pillTabActive--bmZsx">Top</div><div role="button" class="frontend-pencraft-unstable-PillTabs-module__pillTab--cqGWE">New</div><div role="button" class="frontend-pencraft-unstable-PillTabs-module__pillTab--cqGWE">Community</div></div><div role="button" class="frontend-main-home-ArchiveAdapted-module__iconButton--_iQQr"><svg role="img" style="height: 20px; width: 20px;" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke-width="1.8" stroke="#000" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M11 19C15.4183 19 19 15.4183 19 11C19 6.58172 15.4183 3 11 3C6.58172 3 3 6.58172 3 11C3 15.4183 6.58172 19 11 19Z" stroke="#555555" stroke-width="1.5" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"></path><path d="M21.0004 21.0004L16.6504 16.6504" stroke="#555555" stroke-width="1.5" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"></path></g></svg></div></div><div class="portable-archive-list"><p class="portable-archive-empty">No posts</p></div></div></div></div></div><div class="visibility-check"></div><div class="subscribe-footer"><div class="container"><p>Ready for more?</p><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-justifyContent-center pc-reset"><div><div class="frontend-components-free_email_form-module__container--OfBh4"><div noValidate="" class="form frontend-components-free_email_form-module__form--LDIzl"><input type="hidden" name="first_url"><input type="hidden" name="first_referrer"><input type="hidden" name="current_url"><input type="hidden" name="current_referrer"><input type="hidden" name="referral_code"><input type="hidden" name="source" value="subscribe_footer"><input type="hidden" name="referring_pub_id"><input type="hidden" name="additional_referring_pub_ids"><div class="frontend-components-free_email_form-module__sideBySideWrap--yhsgv"><div class="frontend-components-free_email_form-module__emailInputWrapper--BXNrb"><input type="email" name="email" placeholder="Type your email..." class="pencraft frontend-components-free_email_form-module__emailInput--BLQGf frontend-components-free_email_form-module__emailInputOnAccentBackground--WwaMR"></div><button tabIndex="0" type="submit" class="button rightButton primary subscribe-btn frontend-components-free_email_form-module__button--WcLG9 frontend-components-free_email_form-module__buttonOnAccentBackground--pxtYI"><span class="button-text ">Subscribe</span></button></div><div></div></div><div class="frontend-login-typo_handler-EmailTypoHandler-module__animationWrapper--UT0du"></div></div></div></div></div></div>&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;<div class="footer-wrap publication-footer"><div class="visibility-check"></div><div class="footer themed-background"><div class="container"><div class="footer-blurbs"><div class="footer-copyright-blurb">© 2024 Josephus C.W. Visser</div><div class="footer-terms-blurb"><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//substack.com/privacy" rel="nofollow">Privacy</a><span> ∙ </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//substack.com/tos" rel="nofollow">Terms</a><span> ∙ </span><a href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//substack.com/ccpa%23personal-data-collected" rel="nofollow">Collection notice</a></div></div><div class="footer-buttons"><a native="" href="/bubo5/browser?url=https%3A//substack.com/signup%3Futm_source%3Dsubstack%26utm_medium%3Dweb%26utm_content%3Dfooter" class="footer-substack-cta start-publishing" rel="nofollow"><svg role="img" width="1000" height="1000" viewBox="0 0 1000 1000" fill="#FF6719" stroke-width="1.8" stroke="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title></g></svg></a></div></div></div></div>
Software engineers and the law - by Jos Visser Subscribe Sign in Share this post Software engineers and the law josvisser.substack.com Copy link Facebook Email Note Other Software engineers and the law Never ask a lawyer a boolean question Jos Visser Feb 7, 2024 3 Share this post Software engineers and the law josvisser.substack.com Copy link Facebook Email Note Other Share (Like this article? Read more Wednesday Wisdom!)


Summary

statusnot read reprioritisations
last reprioritisation on suggested re-reading day
started reading on finished reading on

Details


Discussion

Do you want to join discussion? Click here to log in or create user.