[GRASS-PSC] Copyright and License Statement: affiliation change

[Paul Kelly]

On Fri, 21 Mar 2008, Markus Neteler wrote:

> Hi PSC,
>
> in our COPYING file and other places we still list FBK as primary
> headquarter. Martin suggested to change that (although he's still there).
> http://trac.osgeo.org/grass/browser/grass/trunk/COPYING
>
> Proposal (although I would prefer an European address ;-) ):
>
> ...
> The Geographic Resources Analysis and Support System (GRASS)
> Geographic Information System (GIS) is Copyright by the
> GRASS Development Team headquartered at the
> Open Source Geospatial Foundation, USA.
> ...
> Questions regarding GRASS GIS should be directed to the
> GRASS Development Team at the following address:
>
> GRASS Development Team
> c/o M. Neteler (GRASS PSC Chair)
> Fondazione Mach  -  Centre for Alpine Ecology
> 38100 Viote del Monte Bondone (Trento)
> Italy
> neteler osgeo.org
> http://grass.osgeo.org/community/team.php
> ...
>
> What's your opinion?

Well the GRASS development team isn't a legal entity anyway. Is it not 
true that the copyright of the GRASS code is held by its individual 
authors? Changing the definition of the "GRASS development team" from 
being associated with a particular physical location to being associated 
with an organisation doesn't really improve or clarify anything IMHO.

Another point could be that the reason for that phrase being there was to 
associate a physical location/place with the copyright in case that was 
important or required. But OSGeo is an organisation rather than a 
location so that is lost too with the proposed change.

My inclination would be to not bother changing anything unless we're going 
to do a thorough overhaul and make sure it is correct and complies with 
whatever relevant laws etc.

Paul