Fwd: [Permabank - Bug #47] Decide on copyright

[Devin Balkind]

Ori and I had discussed adopting GPLv3 and using Sarapis Foundation - my NYC registered NPO - as an entity.  Should I reach out to a Brooklyn College IP lawyer/professor I met at the Eyebeam thing?

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <no-r...@projects.occupy.net>
Date: Wed, Jan 4, 2012 at 4:51 PM
Subject: [Permabank - Bug #47] Decide on copyright
To:

OWS Technology Project Manager

Issue #47 has been updated by devin balkind.

• % Done changed from 10 to 90

I've looked over possible liscenses and I think GPLv3 is best.

We can list Sarapis Foundation (my NY registered nonprofit) as the copyright holder.

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Bug #47: Decide on copyright

• Author: Ori Livneh
• Status: New
• Priority: Normal
• Assignee: devin balkind
• Category:
• Target version:

Currently the code on GitHub lists me as the copyright owner, and releases the code under GPLv3

We should decide whether or not GPL v3 is indeed the best license, and we should decide who should be listed as the copyright holder. My understanding is that it needs to be some recognizable legal body, but I'm an idiot when it comes to these things.

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--
Devin Balkind
Director, Sarapis Foundation

de...@sarapisfoundation.org
@devinbalkind

[elly]

My response was going to be to see legal help. Askin an IP expert sounds perfect!

[David Judd]

Sounds fine to me.

-David

[Evan Wagner]

Devin,

I'm not comfortable with Permabank being under Sarapis- we need to form an independent entity.

Solidarity,

Evan

--
Evan Wagner
reStorAtiVE
646.641.1772

[elly]

isn't OWS already registered as a non-profit (by Ben [+ Jerry]) ?

[Devin Balkind]

It's a simple matter of registering the IP somewhere.  The only power Sarapis would have over the code would be the ones outlined by the license - and since we'd be using a FLO license (probably GPLv3) that power would be basically zero.  That being said, if anyone has an entity we can use for licensing purposes, I'm certainly open to that.  The sooner we get the code licensed the better.  In fact - we need to do it ASAP to comply with the project requirements we passed at the techops meeting last night.

[Dana Skallman]

Hi all, 

Am thinking that could be one of the coops that get created through Tech. It would be to promote FLO solutions and provide a place for projects to have licensing in place if they aren't organized to do so. So in a sense merging FLO & CC. 

Just a thought.

Dana

[David Judd]

I think it makes sense to use Sarapis for now. Sarapis can always hand it off later. We should be protected even if Devin turns evil because of the FLO licensing, and better Sarapis than leaving it in the hands of individual contributors, which makes any kind of re-assignment more complicated. I don't think the tech coops are arriving in the next couple weeks, and I think it is important to get a license up ASAP.

-David

[Evan Wagner]

Sure, whatever works for now, but I don't feel good about it being couched in having to *comply* with "tech-ops project requirements", as I have never agreed with working groups being political bodies, in addition to the fact that I don't even see Permabank as a "tech-ops project", not to mention the fact that I wasn't at the meeting...

[David Judd]

Ok. Here's my suggestion for a plan of action:

* I will add the GPLv3 license to the source code, with the note that the original messaging code is copyright random-dude, and the remainder is copyright Sarapis foundation.

* I will go through the Git history and find everyone who's committed, and try to get in touch with them and ask them to email this list to confirm that they've assigned copyright to Sarapis. (Everyone except Ori, maybe; we can save that for when we're ready to have a larger 'hand-off' conversation with him and avoid having to track him down twice.) I think we don't need any more formality than an email, given that we don't really anticipate any issues, nothing has been registered yet, and we're not talking about that much code anyway, but I wouldn't object to somebody else consulting with a lawyer if someone wants to do this.

Sound good?

-David

[Ori Livneh]

Hey guys, I'm still here, just not entirely able to keep up. Personal life a little too intense at the moment. Sorry for disappearing a little. I'll contribute if/when I can. As for copyright: I release all of it to Sarapis.

-- 
Ori Livneh

[Evan Wagner]

Sounds good, thanks David.  And consulting with a lawyer is on the to-do list for sure...

[David Judd]

Ori - good to hear from you. Totally understand that sometimes stuff happens. Thanks!

-David

[Dan Hoizner]

Hey all,

I'm in a similar boat as Ori time-wise (although not necessarily for the same reasons). Will hopefully be able to contribute down the line and I release all copyright to Sarapis or whatever entity we choose to license under. 

-dan

[elly]

Sounds great, David! I think if we document this in the wiki or the buddypress, that's find because it keeps it transparent. Nice job on a major piece of this project, friends!

[elf Pavlik]

Excerpts from David Judd's message of 2012-02-06 22:17:42 +0000:

> * I will go through the Git history and find everyone who's committed

$ git shortlog -se

14 Crux <hell...@gmail.com>
21 Dan Hoizner <dan.h...@gmail.com>
32 David Judd <david....@gmail.com>
14 Matias Pelenur <mat...@pelenur.com>
126 Ori Livneh <ori.l...@gmail.com>
5 Thiago de Mello Bueno <thi...@madeofpeople.org>
1 david <david@david-laptop.(none)>

=)
~ elf pavlik ~
--
(living strictly moneyless already for over 2 years)
http://wwelves.org/perpetual-tripper
http://moneyless.info
http://hackers4peace.net

[David Judd]

Thanks Elf! I added the license.

-David

[Crux]

I'm also only half-following Permabank lately. :/ I consent to the Sarapis/GPL situation.

Crux

[Keka Marzagao]

Does design fit in there too? If it does, I consent to the license as well. 

It would be nice to see my name in there somewhere as part of the team. :)

Happy to see this gaining traction again! and let me know if you need any new design elements/screens.

Cheers!

keka

[Matias Pelenur]

I too consent to the I consent to my changes being under Sarapis/
GPLv3.

-matias

On Feb 7, 11:23 am, Crux <hellac...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm also only half-following Permabank lately. :/ I consent to the
> Sarapis/GPL situation.
>
> Crux
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 2:58 PM, David Judd <david.a.j...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Thanks Elf! I added the license.
>
> > -David
>

> > On Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 2:20 AM, elf Pavlik <perpetual-trip...@wwelves.org>wrote:
>
> >> Excerpts from David Judd's message of 2012-02-06 22:17:42 +0000:
> >> > * I will go through the Git history and find everyone who's committed
> >> $ git shortlog -se
>

> >>    14  Crux <hellac...@gmail.com>
> >>    21  Dan Hoizner <dan.hoiz...@gmail.com>
> >>    32  David Judd <david.a.j...@gmail.com>
> >>    14  Matias Pelenur <mat...@pelenur.com>
> >>   126  Ori Livneh <ori.liv...@gmail.com>

[Evan Wagner]

Thank you everyone...