Finally received a response back from the FreeBSD Foundation, in regards to how they're related to FreeBSD's code when they don't own the copyright. This is equivalent to the (eventual) relation the SharpOS Board / Foundation might have. Food for thought.
-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: Question about acting as legal entity for code Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2007 10:48:15 -0600 From: Justin T. Gibbs <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Scott Balmos <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> CC: [EMAIL PROTECTED] References: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Scott, I think the source of your confusion stems from here: > We're curious, though, how the foundation can act as the legal entity > for FreeBSD code, without somehow requiring contributors to FreeBSD to > file some type of copyright assignment to the Foundation? We do not act as the legal entity for FreeBSD code (other than code that has a FreeBSD Foundation copyright). We assist the Project and its contributors in legal matters including software licensing and copyright disputes. This is no different than how the ACLU and other non-profit entities render legal assistance in cases where they are not the plaintiff or defendant but the case or cause is in line with their charter. There are several advantages to having copyright ownership - the ability to set unified licensing being only one - but the FreeBSD Foundation's charter is to aid the FreeBSD project, not to "own it", so we have not pushed into this area. Good luck with your organization! -- Justin Justin T. Gibbs Vice President/Founder The FreeBSD Foundation ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This SF.net email is sponsored by: Microsoft Defy all challenges. Microsoft(R) Visual Studio 2005. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/vse0120000070mrt/direct/01/ _______________________________________________ SharpOS-Developers mailing list SharpOS-Developers@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/sharpos-developers