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I've mentioned this before but didn't receive much response, so I'll |
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mention it again. |
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|
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Our copyright assignment doc needs to change. Specific problems with it: |
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|
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* It claims ownership of developer hard drives "...or computer media |
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relating to the Work.") |
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* It says "Gentoo Technologies" instead of "Gentoo Foundation" |
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* It is completely unenforceable for any user (non-dev) that submits |
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something to bugzilla and/or submissions@g.o. (we're not |
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requiring them to sign this doc, so it's not enforceable) |
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* Because we allow the storage things like kernel patches, etc. for which |
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we do not own the copyright, in CVS (in the files/ directories), it shows |
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that we're selectively enforcing the copyright assignment. In the past, |
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this has often resulted in the entire document being tossed in court. |
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* It is questionable whether or not we have any legal right to enforce |
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copyright claims for non-US devs. They're not US citizens, so it's not |
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clear if they're subject to US copyright restrictions/assignments. |
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* We selectively enforce who must sign it. |
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* [minor] http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/devrel/copyright/index.xml needs to |
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be updated to remove Daniel from the text. |
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|
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There are a number of ways to solve this. One set of suggestions: |
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|
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* Eliminate the "...or computer media" clause. |
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* s/Gentoo Technologies/Gentoo Foundation/g |
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* Not sure, but it's something we need to resolve. |
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* Some how find a way to allow storage of files/ files in CVS for which we |
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cannot legally claim copyright on. I'm open to suggestions on how to |
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best do this. |
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* Seek legal counsel on the merit of this document wrt non-US-based devs. |
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* Either have *everyone* sign it or *no one* sign it. |
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* [minor] fix the copyright FAQ page. |
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|
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Until we change this doc, I would like to stop having new devs sign it. It |
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is causing a number of problems, confusion and general unhappiness on |
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#gentoo-dev. I don't think it provides a net benefit to Gentoo as it reads |
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now, (for the reasons outlined above) so I don't see the reason for |
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requiring it. |
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|
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Thoughts, opinions, flames, etc. |
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|
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--kurt |
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