[Qgis-user] QGIS Training and Specialist Materials

[Greg Troxel]

Bruce Napier via QGIS-User <qgis-user at lists.osgeo.org> writes:

> I'm considering applying for a grant from an industry body to develop
> QGIS training materials specifically for farmers - actually to assist
> beef producers (ranchers) manage soils and pastures. It is intended
> that, following provision of training workshops, the materials will be
> released publicly for general use. Also hoping to develop a local
> community of practice around this
>
> Can someone please advise what obligations (legal and moral) I would
> have to the QGIS organization, or where I should look to find this
> out?

I can't speak for 'the QGIS organization' and I'm not even sure what
that is exactly*, but speaking as a (non-attorney) member of the Free
Software community, the big thing is to follow licenses.  You are going
to create training materials, and if you write it all from scratch, I
don't see a copyright issue.  If you adapt materials that exist, then
you'll have to read, understand, and follow the license.

  * I'm not sure because as an individual non-commercial user who helps
    with packaging (and advice about WGS84 :-) I've never paid attention,
    but it's on the website:
    https://qgis.org/community/foundation/charter/

As far as "good Free Software citizen", I'd say you should:

  - make sure everyone (including those that receive training)
    understands software licensing at a high level (as in 1 slide :)

  - make sure people understand that Free Software has volunteer
    community support and that if they have problems, they should not
    expect helpdesk/support that comes with paying for a license for
    vastly expensive proprietary software, and that if they interact
    with lists/forums/issue-trackers, they should not project that
    expectation


And as "beter Free Software citizen", I'd suggest either:

  - release your training materials, in source form, under an open
    license (at least when you are done your grant, as you suggest), or

  - make a donation to some charitable org that supports qgis-related
    Free Software (if you are earning money from qgis without
    contributing developed code/docs to the commons)