Comment Re:Patent infringement x 2! (Score 1) 304
And having a bunch of attorneys reading a bunch of source code is a great way to get a really definitive and correct interpretation of the ramifications and effects of that source code.
One of the nice things about the U.S. is that our law schools are graduate schools with no pre-law undergraduate requirements. That means that many U.S. lawyers have an education in math, biology, physics, medicine, computer science, electrical engineering, etc. Thus, it is possible to find a lawyer who really can read and understand source code.
But even when a firm has a lawyer with the right background and experience, it is common to hire an expert to provide support (and possibly testify on findings). Professors with relevant expertise, but without a stake in the outcome of the case, are typically brought in to fill this role.
Even better (at least from the perspective of whoever wants to understand some bit of code, especially code that says "/* you're not expected to understand this */"), the organization itself can be deposed under FRCP Rule 30(b)(6). The lawyers provide notice to the organization that it is being deposed in order to explain the workings of various pieces of source code. The organization then has to provide people who can explain the workings of the identified pieces of code.
Of course, it still helps to have a lawyer who knows enough technology to be able to ask the right questions and who can understand the answers (or know when the answers are obtuse). Otherwise, you could end up with an six hour explanation of how a linked-list works.
Just like a software developer can provide a detailed critique of the Criminal Code and the Income Tax Act...
You don't have to be a lawyer to read statutes and cases and have an opinion regarding the law. Statutes and cases have their own vocabulary and historical nuances that can lead to some opinions being misguided (e.g., tax protestors who argue that income tax is unconstitutional or illegal are severely misguided). But, a lot of policy implications can be readily understood and fairly critiqued, at a surprisingly detailed level. Legal nuances can also be learned without committing to three years of general legal study. I once had a fascinating conversation with a software developer who, in the course of expressing his views on criminal punishment, unwittingly outlined many of the principles behind the United States Federal Sentencing (advisory) Guidelines.