Copyright Harmony
Bruce Perens
bruce at perens.com
Thu May 27 11:18:52 UTC 2010
The big question with this sort of agreement is what you provide in
return. Most companies provide nothing at all in return and there is no
guarantee that the work can't be taken private the next day. And thus
there is much doubt that this sort of agreement is effective or
beneficial. My version of the agreement attempts to provide balance with
a covenant to keep the company's continuing development under an Open
Source license for a fixed period of time, or to remove the contribution
from the work. So, a contributor is getting a guarantee that the company
will work to contribute more work to Open Source in return for the
contribution.
Bruce
Amanda Brock wrote:
> Hi all
>
> Simon Phipps suggested I send an invite to this list. Canonical is
> leading a project to look at standardising copyright contribution
> agreements within open source. We are also hoping that the project
> will look at inter-company contribution agreements. The aim is to make
> everyone, particularly the engineers lives simpler, with standard
> language and perhaps company agreements which will reduce concerns and
> wasted time reviewing these. We realise that there may still be
> variables based on varying commercial positions, but hope to achieve
> standard wording.
>
> There will be a meeting on this in Boston on 16 June at Choate's
> offices and in London on 23 June at Canonical.
>
> If any of you would like to take part in these or to join the working
> party, or even have questions please do let me know and I will include
> you on the invites and agenda.
>
> A number of you have already responded through different lists and no
> need for you to respond again.
>
> With kind regards
>
> Amanda
>
> Amanda Brock, General Counsel
> Canonical
> 27 Floor, Millbank Tower
> London SW1P 4QP
> +44 2076302446
> +44 7809389878
> Ubuntu - Linux for Human Beings
> www.canonical.com
>
>
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