Thank you. This issues comes up once in a while and I am learning myself via interaction with users. The move from GPL to LGPL was proposed, for example, by users.
Massimo On Wednesday, 11 July 2012 18:53:05 UTC-5, Rhys wrote: > > Hey Massimo, > > Just testing the water, as I was going to contribute to another project in > the past and fired a question like this and they didn't give me the > response that I wanted just fluffy bits in their answer. With you though, > straight to the point and you gave me exactly what I wanted. I've signed > the agreement. > > I'll send you a digital copy and I'll also post the original today. > > Cheers, > > Rhys > > On Thursday, July 12, 2012 2:34:56 AM UTC+10, Massimo Di Pierro wrote: >> >> The contributor agreement serves two purposes: >> >> 1) states you can do anything you want with your contribution. The fact >> it becomes part of web2py does not prevent you from selling or modifying or >> reusing your contribution. >> >> 2) gives me legal rights to speak for web2py and - for example - >> change/amend/customize the web2py license. >> >> 2 is really important. I give you some examples: >> - In the past we had to change the license from the custom one to the >> LGPL. I had the right to do so. Mind that it only makes sense for me >> to exercise this right to make it more open. In fact if I were to make it >> more restrictive, you would fork web2py. >> - A major manufacturing corporation wanted to use web2py for the >> interface of an industrial robot. They asked me permission to do so. I told >> them the LGPL license gives them such permission. Their legal department >> asked for a custom agreement that explicitly allows them to do so. The >> contributor agreement gives me the right to write such custom agreement >> (the agreement is very much like this one: >> http://www.sencha.com/legal/sencha-commercial-software-license-agreement/ >> ) >> - If there is any need to defend web2py in court, I have the right to do >> it. >> >> Keep in mind that the "community" is not a legal entity. Every open >> source project is owed by somebody. And when it is not, it does not last >> much. RoR is owned by 37 Signals (a private company), Django is owned by >> the Django Foundation (and a foundation is not the same as the "community", >> it is a non-for-profit registered company). >> >> I have considered giving the web2py right to a company or a foundation >> but, 1) it would not change for the contributor agreement (it would just >> list a different legal entity as copyright holder). 2) it would be more >> expensive (a company costs $1000/year and a foundation about double). 3) a >> company or a foundation is more likely to go broke than I am as a person. >> What would happen to the legal rights on web2py in that case? >> >> The legal agreement says you do not worry about all of this. I do. >> >> Massimo >> >> >> On Wednesday, 11 July 2012 05:41:37 UTC-5, Rhys wrote: >>> >>> Hey Everyone, >>> >>> I have a few questions about the contributors agreement. I've gotten to >>> that point where I would like to contribute where I can, but there are >>> somethings which are rattling around in my head. >>> >>> When this agreement states 'I' or 'me' who or what is that exactly. The >>> reason I ask is because of section 2 condition 4: >>> >>> *you agree that I may register a copyright in your contribution and >>> exercise all ownership rights associated with it;* >>> >>> If I create something which is fantastic say, I don't want an individual >>> to own it, only the project/foundation. As a result the copyright is >>> remains with the project not an individual. I'm trying to really find out >>> where does the buck stop. Is this project a single entity which supports >>> it's contributors as no one is given full rights, or is it one individual >>> who is given rights for others intellectual property around a project? >>> >>> No offence Massimo, but I'm a little bit confused because your name is >>> on every bit of copyright around web2py I've seen. What is stopping you >>> taking out a copyright where you own entire rights so if it can be sold you >>> can take the money and run? >>> >>> I understand why you have these, yet that is a bold condition which I'm >>> having trouble making it clear. If someone could make it clearer by showing >>> somewhere in the agreement removes such ownership of one individual I'll >>> sign it straight away. Maybe I've missed something? >>> >>> Cheers, >>> >>> Rhys >>> >>
