Hi! I’m Luis Villa. I’m the Deputy General Counsel at the Wikimedia Foundation. My goal as a lawyer is to help innovators and creators do their thing – with minimal interference, and maximum assistance, from their lawyers.

My website

My blog, discussing a mix of technology, law, and my personal life.

Pictures I’ve taken of my life and travels.

Talks I’ve given on software and the law.

My Wife

Krissa Nichols. RPCV and lover of local food.

Micro-resume

I went to Columbia Law School, where I was Editor-in-Chief of the Science and Technology Law Review, and was awarded the Carroll Harper Prize for excellence in IP law scholarship.

Before law school, I was geek-in-residence at the Berkman Center For Internet and Society at Harvard Law School. I did mostly project management for Berkman projects like StopBadware and H2O, but also general geekery of various and sundry sorts.

Before that, I was a proud member and occasional manager of the Ximian desktop team, which became Novell’s Linux Desktop group.

I was a founding member of the GNOME bugsquad, and was the ‘bugmaster’ for many GNOME releases. I was also elected to several terms on the GNOME Foundation Board.

I used to be a very active legOS hacker, but am no longer actively involved with Lego Mindstorms.

I went to Duke, where I was a Cameron Crazy, and studied political science and computer science. I was lucky enough to have some brilliant profs like John Brehm, Tom Spragens, Scott de Marchi, Karen Stenner, Michael Littman, and Owen Astrachan.

I grew up in sunny, green Coral Gables, Florida.

Not Me

You may have come here looking for another Luis Villa.

I am not Luis Villa, Jr., MD, an oncologist (and also my father).

I also am not Luis Villa, a Spaniard usability expert.

If you’re another Luis Villa, drop a note and say hi! :)