[License-review] META: license review tracking (was Re: Outstanding license submissions)

[Richard Fontana]

On Wed, Feb 03, 2016 at 10:23:17PM -0500, Christopher Sean Morrison wrote:
> 
> Apologies for the resend.  Less html this time.

Thanks!

> The outstanding license submissions updates are a *really* useful reminder,

Yes, my bad for not keeping up with that after an initial effort. 

> but submissions like NOSA repeatedly fail to progress with only
> informal on-inquiry status updates.  I think it would be helpful for
> this group to establish (or update/enforce if one exists) a social
> contract so license submitters have some expectation of activity or
> response that is respectful of the process, the reviewers, and the
> submitter.

I basically agree with that. I would just say that, without in any way
excusing the continued delay surrounding NOSA 2.0 (entirely my fault
apart from the inherent complexity of the license), I believe NOSA 2.0
is a unique case. 
 
> A couple years ago at the OSI summit in DC, I think it was Patrick
> that announced proposals could be submitted to OSI to fund
> infrastructure projects.  Perhaps this should be utilized, to ensure
> license review infrastructure actually gets set up.  I'd be happy to
> champion a write-up -- progress really needs to be more consistent.

I don't think the issue with NOSA 2.0 is really an *infrastructure*
issue, except in that mailing list discussion may be an insufficiently
suitable form of scrutiny of a relatively complex license like NOSA
2.0. 

> Looking at the Fall 2015 face-to-face meeting minutes, there was an
> unassigned action to follow up with some offer from GitHub.  No
> update in the December meeting.  What was the nature of GitHub's
> offer?  Is progress being made?

Offhand I don't recall what this was but I'll check the minutes and
ask Patrick.

Richard