<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">IMO</font>
<br>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Good call Cameron.</font>
<br>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">In this day and age it would pay to
be proactive on these types of issues.</font>
<br>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">It's been a while since I last looked
at this.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">From memory, a number of large companies
have pledged resources to help defend FOSS. I'm not sure where this is
at currently. </font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">I think that its with the Linux Foundation
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Linux_Foundation (formed in 2007
from The Open Source Development Labs and the Free Standards Group).</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">You may also want to look at the Software
Freedom Law Centre founded by Eben Moglen. I understand that they provide
pro-bono legal services to protect and advance Free and Open Source Software:</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">http://www.softwarefreedom.org/technology/</font>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Bruce</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif"> </font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif"><br>
</font>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<table width=100%>
<tr valign=top>
<td width=40%><font size=1 face="sans-serif"><b>Cameron Shorter <cameron.shorter@gmail.com></b>
</font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Sent by: discuss-bounces@lists.osgeo.org</font>
<p><font size=1 face="sans-serif">31/10/07 09:30 AM</font>
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<div align=center><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Please respond to<br>
OSGeo Discussions <discuss@lists.osgeo.org></font></div></table>
<br>
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<table width=100%>
<tr valign=top>
<td>
<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">To</font></div>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif">OSGeo Discussions <discuss@lists.osgeo.org></font>
<tr valign=top>
<td>
<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">cc</font></div>
<td>
<tr valign=top>
<td>
<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Subject</font></div>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] Board Proposal:
Statement of OSGeo Legal Support</font></table>
<br>
<table>
<tr valign=top>
<td>
<td></table>
<br></table>
<br>
<br>
<br><font size=2><tt>Good processes + no money is an acceptable strategy
so long as we have <br>
consciously made this decision and everyone is aware of the strategy.<br>
<br>
Allan Doyle wrote:<br>
><br>
> On Oct 30, 2007, at 15:09 , Michael P. Gerlek wrote:<br>
><br>
>> Way back on that cold day in Chicago, I'm not sure anyone ever
really<br>
>> thought about what it would mean when we said we'd "offer
legal<br>
>> protection".<br>
>><br>
>> Does it imply/lead-to/entail some sort of indemnification? Ouch,
that<br>
>> would be pricey... How does the Apache gang, et al, handle
this?<br>
><br>
> My recollection is that the Apache gang carefully keeps their coffers
<br>
> empty and makes sure the code all legally belongs to the Apache <br>
> Foundation. Thus there's not enough of a pot of gold to win in a suit.<br>
><br>
> However, I'm guessing that this strategy depends on a pretty <br>
> well-defined process to ensure there are no loopholes.<br>
><br>
> Allan<br>
><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>> -mpg<br>
>><br>
>><br>
>><br>
>>> -----Original Message-----<br>
>>> From: discuss-bounces@lists.osgeo.org<br>
>>> [mailto:discuss-bounces@lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Landon
Blake<br>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 7:56 AM<br>
>>> To: OSGeo Discussions<br>
>>> Subject: RE: [OSGeo-Discuss] Board Proposal: Statement of<br>
>>> OSGeo Legal Support<br>
>>><br>
>>> Cameron,<br>
>>><br>
>>> I think this is an excellent idea, and a lawyer should definitely
be<br>
>>> consulted. I wonder if the legal staff at the Software Freedom<br>
>>> Conservancy could assist.<br>
>>><br>
>>> Landon<br>
>>><br>
>>> -----Original Message-----<br>
>>> From: discuss-bounces@lists.osgeo.org<br>
>>> [mailto:discuss-bounces@lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Cameron
Shorter<br>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2007 3:56 AM<br>
>>> To: OSGeo-Board<br>
>>> Cc: OSGeo Discussions; Adrian Custer<br>
>>> Subject: [OSGeo-Discuss] Board Proposal: Statement of OSGeo
Legal<br>
>>> Support<br>
>>><br>
>>> OSGeo Board, (CC to OSGeo Discuss),<br>
>>><br>
>>> During the founding of OSGeo, it was often noted that OSGeo
projects<br>
>>> would benefit from OSGeo legal protection. Now, as Geotools
wrestles<br>
>>> with graduation criteria and how to handle license assignment,
the<br>
>>> nature and level of legal protection offered by OSGeo is<br>
>>> unclear. Also<br>
>>> unclear is the level of legal review available (as tested
by Geotools<br>
>>> crafting of a Copywrite Assignment document).<br>
>>> Consequently, geotools is having difficulty deciding whether<br>
>>> it is wise<br>
>>> to assign copywrite to OSGeo.<br>
>>><br>
>>> I suspect a large part of the problem is that board members
(like<br>
>>> myself) are not lawyers and don't have a clear understanding
of the<br>
>>> options, the value of each of the options to OSGeo and the<br>
>>> projects (how<br>
>>> much protection is given), and the cost both in time and financially.<br>
>>> Key questions to answer for each option are:<br>
>>> * What level of support is given to contributors and license
reviewers<br>
>>> (individuals and companies)<br>
>>> * What level of support is given to OSGeo users?<br>
>>> * What level of support is given to projects? Will OSGeo<br>
>>> fight a license<br>
>>> infringer on behalf of a project?<br>
>>> * What level of support is given to the OSGeo Foundation?<br>
>>><br>
>>> *Proposal*<br>
>>> That the board makes a clear statement on their website about<br>
>>> nature and<br>
>>> level of support offered by OSGeo to OSGeo projects and Individuals.<br>
>>> This statement needs to be backed up with a budget item addressing<br>
>>> financial implications related to the statement.<br>
>>><br>
>>> Implementation:<br>
>>> I suggest the steps to achieve the above would be:<br>
>>> 1. Board approves budget to have a lawyer, or volunteer with
legal<br>
>>> review, to draw up a list of options and their financial<br>
>>> implications.<br>
>>> Adrian Custer's review provides an excellent basis for a<br>
>>> lawyer to start<br>
>>><br>
>>> from. http://docs.codehaus.org/display/GEOTOOLS/Geotools+Legal+Review<br>
>>> 2. Board votes to select best option.<br>
>>> 3. OSGeo financial sponsors are given opportunity to contribute
to<br>
>>> decision.<br>
>>> 4. OSGeo budgets for decision<br>
>>> 5. OSGeo records the legal stance publicly (on a webpage).<br>
>>><br>
>>> -- <br>
>>> Cameron Shorter<br>
>>> Geospatial Systems Architect<br>
>>> Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050<br>
>>> Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254<br>
>>><br>
>>> Think Globally, Fix Locally<br>
>>> Commercial Support for Geospatial Open Source Software<br>
>>> http://www.lisasoft.com/LISAsoft/SupportedProducts.html<br>
>>><br>
>>> _______________________________________________<br>
>>> Discuss mailing list<br>
>>> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org<br>
>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss<br>
>>><br>
>>><br>
>>> Warning:<br>
>>> Information provided via electronic media is not guaranteed<br>
>>> against defects including translation and transmission<br>
>>> errors. If the reader is not the intended recipient, you are<br>
>>> hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or<br>
>>> copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you<br>
>>> have received this information in error, please notify the<br>
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>>> _______________________________________________<br>
>>> Discuss mailing list<br>
>>> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org<br>
>>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss<br>
>>><br>
>> _______________________________________________<br>
>> Discuss mailing list<br>
>> Discuss@lists.osgeo.org<br>
>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss<br>
><br>
<br>
<br>
-- <br>
Cameron Shorter<br>
Geospatial Systems Architect<br>
Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050<br>
Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254<br>
<br>
Think Globally, Fix Locally<br>
Commercial Support for Geospatial Open Source Software<br>
http://www.lisasoft.com/LISAsoft/SupportedProducts.html<br>
<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
Discuss mailing list<br>
Discuss@lists.osgeo.org<br>
http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss<br>
</tt></font>
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