Robert Gomulkiewicz

Robert W. Gomulkiewicz is a Charles I. Stone Endowed Professor of Law.  He serves as Lead Faculty Director of the Center for the Advanced Study and Research on Innovation Policy (CASRIP) and Director of the Intellectual Property Law & Policy Graduate Program.  He also serves as the Faculty Advisor for the Washington Law Review.

Professor Gomulkiewicz’s scholarship focuses on intellectual property licensing and legal protection for software. His publications include both a treatise and a teaching textbook on intellectual property licensing, a teaching textbook on legal protection for software, and numerous articles on software licensing and open source software. He is also the author of the Simple Public License (SimPL) which is a plain language rendering of the venerable GNU General Public License. In 2018 he was a Herchel Smith Visiting Fellow at the University of Cambridge, in 2014 a Senior Engelberg Fellow at New York University School of Law, and in 2008-09 a visiting scholar at the University of Oxford. 

Prior to joining the faculty, he was an Associate General Counsel at Microsoft where he led the group of lawyers providing legal counsel for development of Microsoft's major systems software, desktop applications, and developer tools software (including Windows and Office). He also served as Chair of the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (UCITA) working group of the Business Software Alliance. He joined Microsoft from the law firm of Preston, Gates & Ellis (now K&L Gates) where he represented developers and users of software and information products. While at Preston, Gates & Ellis, he worked on the Apple v. Microsoft case.

Peer Reviewed Journals & Law Reviews

• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, The Supreme Court’s Chief Justice of Intellectual Property Law, 22 Nev. L.J. (forthcoming 2022).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, Contracts Mattered as Much as Copyrights, 66 J. Copyright Soc’y U.S.A. 441-475 (2019).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, Is the License Still the Product?, 60 Ariz. L. Rev. 425-64 (2018).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, Reasons for Counseling Reasonableness in Deploying Covenants-Not-to-Compete in Technology Firms, 20 Lewis & Clark L. Rev. 477-95 (2016).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, Leaky Covenants-Not-to-Compete as the Legal Infrastructure for Innovation, 49 U.C. Davis L. Rev. 251-304 (2015).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, In the Stewardship of Business Model Innovation, 67 Fla. L. Rev. Forum 35-37 (2015).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, Fostering the Business of Innovation: The Untold Story of Bowers v. Baystate Technologies, 7 Wash. J. L. Tech. & Arts 445-66 (2012).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, Enforcing Open Source Software Licenses: The MDY Trio's Inconvenient Complications, 14 Yale J. L. & Tech. 106-37 (2011).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, Intellectual Property, Innovation, and the Future: Toward a Better Model for Educating Leaders in Intellectual Property Law, 64 SMU L. Rev. 1161-86 (2011).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, Conditions and Covenants in License Contracts: Tales from a Test of the Artistic License, 17 Tex. Intell. Prop. L.J. 335-61 (2009).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, The Federal Circuit's Licensing Law Jurisprudence: Its Nature and Influence, 84 Wash. L. Rev. 199-259 (2009).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, Open Source License Proliferation: Helpful Diversity or Hopeless Confusion? 30 Wash. U. J.L. & Pol’y 261-91 (2009).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, A First Look at General Public License 3.0, Computer & Internet Law., Nov. 2007, at 15-21.
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, General Public License 3.0: Hacking the Free Software Movement’s Constitution, 42 Hous. L. Rev. 1015-40 (2005).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, Getting Serious about User-Friendly Mass Market Licensing for Software, 12 Geo. Mason L. Rev. 687-718 (2004).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, Non-Disclosure Agreements in Technology Collaborations: Balancing Risks and Opportunities, Computer & Internet Law., Feb. 2004, at 17-18.
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, Entrepreneurial Open Source Software Hackers--MySQL and Its Dual Licensing, 9 Computer L. Rev. & Tech J. 203-12 (2004).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, De-bugging Open Source Software Licensing, 64 U. Pitt. L. Rev. 75-103 (2002).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, Legal Protection for Software: Still a Work in Progress, 8 Tex. Wesleyan L. Rev. 445-54 (2002).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, How Copyleft Uses License Rights to Succeed in the Open Source Software Revolution and the Implications for Article 2B, 36 Hous. L. Rev. 179-94 (1999).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, The Implied Warranty of Merchantability in Software Contracts: A Warranty No One Dares to Give and How to Change That, 16 J. Marshall J. Computer & Info. L. 393-402 (1998).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, The License Is the Product: Comments on the Promise of Article 2B for Software and Information Licensing, 13 Berkeley Tech. L. J. 891-930 (1998).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz & Mary L. Williamson, A Brief Defense of Mass Market Software License Agreements, 22 Rutgers Computer & Tech. L.J. 335-67 (1996).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, International Law Governing Aid to Opposition Groups in Civil War: Resurrecting the Standards of Belligerency, 63 Wash. L. Rev. 43-68 (1988).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, Comment, Recognizing the Liability of Social Hosts Who Knowingly Allow Intoxicated Guests to Drive: Limits to Socially Acceptable Behavior, 60 Wash. L. Rev. 389-406 (1986).

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Books or Treatises

• Xuan-Thao N. Nguyen, Robert W. Gomulkiewicz & Danielle M. Conway, Intellectual Property, Software, and Information Licensing: Law and Practice (2d ed. 2018 Bloomberg BNA). 1 vol.
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, Xuan-Thao Nguyen & Danielle M. Conway, Licensing Intellectual Property: Law and Application (4th ed. Aspen 2018) (Aspen Casebook Series) 924 pages.
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, Software Law and Its Application (2d ed. Aspen Publishers 2018) (Aspen Select Series). 630 pages.
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, Xuan-Thao Nguyen & Danielle M. Conway, Licensing Intellectual Property: Law and Application (3d ed. Aspen 2014) (Aspen Casebook Series) 815 pages.
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, Software Law and Its Application (Aspen Publishers 2014) (Aspen Casebook Series). 578 pages.
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, Xuan-Thao Nguyen & Danielle M. Conway, Licensing Intellectual Property: Law and Application (2d ed. Aspen Publishers 2011) (Aspen Casebook Series). 700 pages.
• Xuan-Thao N. Nguyen, Robert W. Gomulkiewicz & Danielle Conway-Jones, Intellectual Property, Software, and Information Licensing: Law and Practice (Bureau of National Affairs 2006 & annual cum. supps.). 1536 pages.
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz et al., Licensing Intellectual Property: Law and Application (Aspen Publishers 2008). 609 pages.

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Book Chapters

• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, Clarifications and Complications in Enforcing Open Source Software Licenses, in Research Handbook on Intellectual Property Licensing 76-98 (Jacques de Werre ed., Edward Elgar Publishing 2013).

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Professional Publications

• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, In Person, 4 J. Intell. Prop. L. & Prac. 72 (2009).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, After 30 Years, Debate Over Software Protection Is Still Noisy: Do Current Laws Protect Too Little or Too Much, Nat. L. J., May 12, 2003, at S10-11.
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz & William H. Neukom, Licensing Rights to Computer Software, in Technology Licensing and Litigation 775 (Practicing Law Institute 1993) (PLI Patent, Copyright, Trademark & Literary Prop., Course Handbook Ser. No. 354).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, Defensas Contra Reclamos por Infraccion a los Derechos de Autor Relacionados con Software, 32 DAT: Derecho De La Alta Tecnologia 1 (April 1991)(with Martin F. Smith & Cynthia M. Hayward).
• Robert W. Gomulkiewicz, Research and Development and High Technology Joint Ventures, Joint Venturing Abroad (Wash. St.  Bar 1988) (with Martin F. Smith).

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• Moderator, "Status of Washington State Constitution's Religious Freedom Provision in Light of Federal Law Developments", Second Annual Law and Religion Symposium, University of Washington School of Law (May 17, 2019)
• Speaker, "Copyright Licensing for Revolutionaries", Intellectual Property Seminar Series, University of Cambridge Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Law (October 25, 2018)
• Speaker, "Is the License Still the Product?", Shefelman Faculty Colloquium, University of Washington School of Law (January 25, 2018)
• Panelist, "Recent Developments in Washington State", First Annual Law and Religion Symposium, University of Washington School of Law (October 13, 2017)
• Speaker, "Is the License Still the Product?", Pacific Intellectual Property Scholars Conference, (September 30, 2017)
• Speaker, "Intellectual Property Licensing Models After Impression Products v. Lexmark", 2017 CASRIP Innovation Policy Summer Institute, University of Washington School of Law (July 10, 2017)
• Panelist, "Consumer Messaging in Connection with Online Transactions Involving Copyrighted Works", U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (April 18, 2017)
• Moderator, "Alternative Frameworks/Open Source Software", The Art and Science of the IP Deal, University of Washington School of Law (April 8, 2017)
• Panelist, "The Values and Ethics of Deals", The Art and Science of the IP Deal, University of Washington School of Law (April 7, 2017)
• Speaker, "Reasons for Reasonable Covenants-Not-To-Compete", Intellectual Property Law Section, King County Bar Association (December 1, 2016)
• Speaker, "Trade Secrets and Hi Tech Start Ups", Washington Public Records Exemptions Accountability Committee (“Sunshine Committee”) (October 25, 2016)
• Panelist, "Constitutional Implications of Managing Urban Activities: Protests, Civil Disobedience, Homelessness—Where Is the Line Between Constitutional Rights and Criminal Activity?", Addressing Seattle's Urban Efficacy Principles, Seattle University Center for the Study of Crime and Justice, Department of Criminal Justice (May 6, 2016)
• Speaker, "The Non-Enforcement of Non-Compete Agreements in the Technology Sector--Comparing the Silicon Valley and Silicon Sound Experiences", 20th Annual Business Law Forum, Lewis & Clark Law School (September 11, 2015)
• Speaker, "IP in the Cloud: The Use of the Cloud by Universities", National Association of College & University Attorneys (July 1, 2015)
• Speaker, "Leaky Covenants-Not-to-Compete as the Legal Infrastructure for Innovation", Pacific Intellectual Property Scholars Conference, (February 16, 2015)

• What is free speech? (Prof. Gomulkiewicz interviewed)
  Jul 11, 2020 | Source: MyNorthwest
• Fifteen-foot Trump sign sparks neighborhood debate over Bremerton sign code (Prof. Gomulkiewicz quoted)
  Jan 05, 2020 | Source: Kitsap Sun
• Local government officials may be barred from blocking Twitter critics (Prof. Gomulkiewicz)
  May 25, 2018 | Source: Spokesman Review
• Hamilton Uncle Sam Billboard Is a Landmark in a ‘Legal Twilight Zone’ - profs. Spitzer and Gomulkiewicz quoted
  Oct 13, 2017 | Source: The Chronicle (Lewis County)
• Fury road: did Uber steal the driverless future from Google? - Prof. Gomulkiewicz quoted
  Mar 16, 2017 | Source: Bloomberg Businessweek
• Waymo's Fight With Uber Might Be the First Shot in a Self-driving Car IP War - Prof. Gomulkiewicz quoted
  Feb 24, 2017 | Source: IEEE Spectrum