Copyright Harmony

[Bruce Perens]

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
>
>