[OSGeo-Discuss] process for copyright assignment

[Stephen Woodbridge]

I think this is simpler than you are making it, but maybe not. There are 
two separate issues here:

1) title/ownership (in this case the copyright)
2) branding

These are totally separate issues and we need to make sure that one does 
not imply the other. We just need explicit language the makes it clear 
the assignment of copyright does not allow one to use the OSGeo brand or 
to claim that the code is from or part of an OSGeo project.

This probably means that when copyright is assigned we need explicit 
language on what must appear in the header files. And the header files 
for OSGeo projects are different from assignment outside an offical 
OSGeo project.

I like your ideas of using OSGeo Labs for that.

-Steve

Cameron Shorter wrote:
> As mentioned on the Openlayers list,
> I think that one of OSGeo's role is to protect its association with 
> quality software, which is done through the incubation process. 
> Assigning copyright to OSGeo provides an association with the OSGeo 
> project, and hence there is the potential for the project to dilute the 
> OSGeo brand if not done properly.
> 
> I like the idea of asking projects to join OSGeo Labs if assigning 
> copyright to OSGeo, as it makes clear the project has not proven its 
> quality yet, and hence the OSGeo brand is not weakened.
> 
> On Tue, Apr 7, 2009 at 6:10 AM, Tim Schaub <tschaub at opengeo.org 
> <mailto:tschaub at opengeo.org>> wrote:
> 
>     Hey-
> 
>     I'm hoping to hear some discussion that results in the creation of
>     guidelines for new, pre-incubation projects wishing to assign
>     copyright to OSGeo.
> 
>     Ideally, these guidelines would be as simple as:
>      1) Follow instructions for becoming a "labs" project
>     http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/OSGeo_Labs
>      2) Follow instructions on assigning copyright
>     http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Project_Copyright_Assignment
> 
>     Both of the above pages would require some modification.
> 
>     I'd suggest a section on the labs page about "becoming a labs
>     project" (perhaps as simple as editing that wiki page).
> 
>     On the copyright page, it would be nice if the preferred template
>     replaced the old one and if there were some instruction on what to
>     do with a signed agreement (e.g. mail to X).
> 
>     Does this seem reasonable?
> 
>     This has been brought up previously ([1], [2]).  Previous
>     suggestions have been "don't ask, just assign" and "ask existing
>     project to accept governance."  Since the former feels sleazy and
>     the latter assumes some existing project is motivated to assist the
>     new project, I'm hoping there can be something in between.
> 
>     Also, since I don't pretend to understand all the implications of
>     assigning copyright, I would accept "OSGeo doesn't encourage this"
>     as an answer.
> 
>     Thanks for any ideas (and I'm happy to help with drafting any
>     guidelines).
> 
>     Tim
> 
> 
>     [1] http://n2.nabble.com/copyright-question-td2088465.html
>     [2]
>     http://n2.nabble.com/Starting-new-projects-under-OSGEO-td2083937.html
> 
>     -- 
>     Tim Schaub
>     OpenGeo - http://opengeo.org
>     Expert service straight from the developers.
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> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Cameron Shorter
> Geospatial Systems Architect
> Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050
> Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254
> 
> Think Globally, Fix Locally
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