Catharina Maracke

Last updated
Catharina Maracke
Catharina Maracke.jpg
Catharina Maracke in Frankfurt, 2007
Born
Germany
NationalityGerman
Alma mater Christian-Albrechts University
Occupation(s)Lawyer, Academic, Consultant
Known forIntellectual Property Law, Open Source Governance, Creative Commons

Catharina Maracke is a German lawyer and academic specializing in intellectual property law, copyright law, and open source software governance. She is recognized for her contributions to open source compliance. Maracke is known for her role in establishing the OpenChain project, the first international standard for open source license compliance (ISO/IEC 5230) and being one of the first strategic advisor. [1] Also, she is known for her leadership at the Open Source Initiative (OSI) as a board chair and ongoing board member. [2] [3]

Contents

Early life and education

Maracke was admitted to the bar in Germany. She earned her PhD from the Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel, supported by a scholarship from the Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property and Competition Law in Munich. Her doctoral thesis explored the history of the German Copyright Act of 1965. [4] [5]

Career

Maracke served as International Director at Creative Commons, where she oversaw the global license porting project, adapting Creative Commons licenses to various jurisdictions. [4] [6] She was a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on the Intellectual Property System, contributing to discussions on global IP policy. [4]

She founded the Software Compliance Academy, a consulting firm focused on open source compliance, advising clients on licensing and governance. [7] Maracke also worked with MBition, a Mercedes-Benz subsidiary, on technology strategy for infotainment systems. [4]

In March 2012, she was a Shuttleworth Foundation Fellow where she worked on Contributor Agreements. [8]

In academia, Maracke has held positions as an associate professor at Keio University’s Graduate School for Media and Governance in Japan, affiliate professor for IT and Data Law at Bucerius Law School in Germany, and faculty associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. [4] [9] Maracke played a key role in establishing the OpenChain project, which became the first international standard for open source license compliance (ISO/IEC 5230). [10] She served as a board member of the Open Source Initiative from 2021, becoming chair before stepping down in 2023. [11]

Research and contributions

Maracke's work focuses on the intersection of law and technology, particularly in copyright, open source software, and licensing standardization. Her contributions to open source governance include shaping compliance frameworks and promoting standardized licensing practices globally. [10] Maracke's academic research is published widely. [12]

References

  1. ↑ "OpenChain Announces Strategic Advisors". 7 Aug 2019. Retrieved 23 Sep 2025.
  2. ↑ "Catharina Maracke Director Biography". Open Source Initiative. Retrieved 5 Sep 2025.
  3. ↑ "A personal letter from Catharina Maracke, Chair of the Open Source Initiative". Open Source Initiative. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 5 Sep 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Catharina Maracke LinkedIn Profile" . Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  5. ↑ Maracke, Catharina (5 May 2003). Die Entstehung des Urheberrechtsgesetzes von 1965.: Dissertationsschrift (Schriften zur Rechtsgeschichte, Band 99). Duncker & Humblot. Retrieved 5 Sep 2025.
  6. ↑ "Catharina Maracke Creative Commons Blog". Creative Commons Website. Retrieved 5 Sep 2025.
  7. ↑ "Catharina Maracke". The Linux Foundation. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  8. ↑ "Catharina Maracke Institutionalising contributor agreements". Shuttleworth Foundation.
  9. ↑ "Catharina Maracke". Berkman Klein Center. 9 June 2025. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  10. 1 2 "OpenChain Project". The Linux Foundation. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  11. ↑ "OSI Board Changes 2021". Open Source Initiative. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
  12. ↑ "Catharina Maracke's research while affiliated with Keio University and other places". Research Gate. Retrieved 5 Sep 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.