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Eclipse Foundation2023-04-11 1
Why Does Open Source Governance Matter?
Ian SkerrettEclipse Foundation
Eclipse Foundation2023-04-11 2
Open Source Has Won
#1
Eclipse Foundation2023-04-11 3
Eclipse Foundation2023-04-11 4
Source: 2013 Future of Open Source Survey
Eclipse Foundation2023-04-11 5
Source: 2013 Future of Open Source Survey
Eclipse Foundation2023-04-11 6
Source: 2013 Future of Open Source Survey
Eclipse Foundation
We Know ‘Most’ of the Following
Licensing
Usage Policies
(Procurement)
Business Models
Eclipse Foundation2023-04-11 8
Open Source Maturity Model
0. Deny
1. Use
2. Contribute
3.Champion
4.Collaborate
5. Redefine
Scope
Time
Value Captured
Value co-creationValue capture
Business DrivenEngineering Driven
Eclipse Foundation2023-04-11 9
Collaboration Requires Trust
Eclipse Foundation2023-04-11 10
Good Governance Creates Trust
Art Source: lumaxart
Eclipse Foundation
Project Stages: Individual
Developer starts
project
Project becomes successful
Questions of control and ownership
Eclipse Foundation
Vert.x ExampleDear Vert.x Community,
As many of you already know I left VMware at the end of December and started at Red Hat last week.
In the spirit of open source and as a commitment to the Vert.x community I
had expected (perhaps naively) that VMware would continue to let me continue to administer the Vert.x project after I had left their employment.
On the 28th December I received a letter from VMware lawyers (delivered to my door in person, no less!) that I must immediately give up and transfer to VMware all administrative rights over the following things: The Vert.x github project, the Vert.x google group, the domain vertx.io and the Vert.x blog.
Source: Tim Fox, Vert.x Google Group
Eclipse Foundation
Project Stages: Corporate
Company starts a project
Project becomes successful
Competitive landscape
issues
Eclipse Foundation
Project Stages: Corporate 2
Company starts a project
Project becomes successful
Company Changes Strategy
Eclipse Foundation2023-04-11 15
Examples
Eclipse Foundation
Governance = Who Is In Control
IP Ownership Control– Copyright, Trademark, License
Development Control– Who controls the code repository– Who makes the decision on project releases and
functionality– Platform support
Eclipse Foundation
Governance Questions
How are decision made?
Who is final authority?
What are the business motivationsof the final authority?
Eclipse Foundation2023-04-11 18
GOVERNANCE SOLUTIONS?
Eclipse Foundation2023-04-11 19
Vert.x Options1) "Netty-style solution". In this solution almost everything continues as-is. The only difference is a CLA is crafted that grants rights of the contributions not to RHT or VMW, but to the "Project". This would require VMWare to grant a perpetual license to the "Project" for use of the name Vert.x.
2) Fork. We wouldn't have permission to use the name 'Vert.x' so we'd have to rename the project. That means removing all references to 'Vert.x' from the code, documentation, and other materials. We'd also lose the current github issues, the wiki, the blog, Google Group and domain. This would not require any permission from VMware.
3) Move project to Apache Software Foundation. This would need approval from ASF and VMware.
4) Move project to the Eclipse Foundation. This would need approval from the Eclipse Foundation and VMware.
Tim Fox - Vert.x Google Forum – January 10, 2013
Eclipse Foundation
Governance Options
1. Fork
2. Status quo
3. Create a legal entity for the ‘Project’. - Create a Foundation
4. Move Project to a Foundation
Eclipse Foundation2023-04-11 21
?
Eclipse Foundation2023-04-11 22
Status Quo: Individuals
Something that isn't a legal entity can't hold copyright. I do see frequently that some Free Software projects have notices say Copyright, The Project". However, if "The Project" isn't a legal entity in some jurisdiction somewhere in the world, that's probably not a valid copyright notice, and I recommend against using it.
Bradley KuhnVert.x Google GroupJanuary 10,2013
Eclipse Foundation2023-04-11 23
Status Quo: Corporate
Eclipse Foundation2023-04-11 24
Creating a Foundation
Eclipse Foundation
Goals of Creating a Foundation
No special status Long-term stability
Eclipse Foundation
Incorporation
• Incorporation– 501.c3 (a charity)– 501.c6 (trade association)
• Write Bylaws• Selecting Board of Directors
I wanted to keep the project neutral. However, in Korea, it is pretty difficult for an individual to found a non-profit.
Trustin Lee, Netty Project Leader Vert.x Google Forum, January 10, 2013
Eclipse Foundation
Agreements
• Membership Agreement • Open Source License Selection• Contribution and Committer Agreements• Trademark Guidelines
Eclipse Foundation
Setup
• Development Process– How are committers determined– How are technical decision made for the project
• IT Infrastructure– What forge will be used?
• Financials– What is the budget– Professional staff or volunteers– Funding model: donations, memberships, other?
Eclipse Foundation
Ongoing Operation
• Filing taxes• Maintain infrastructure• Fundraising
Eclipse Foundation
Pros and Cons• Pros: Determine your own destiny
– Create your own rules to fit your community
• Cons: Time and Cost– Legal costs– Time to setup and gain agreement on governance
of the project and legal agreements– Difficult in many countries– Ongoing work
Eclipse Foundation2023-04-11 31
MOVE TO A FOUNDATION
Eclipse Foundation
Types of Foundations
Self-service Foundations• Software for the
Public Interest (SPI)• Software Freedom
Conservatory (SFC)• Outercurve
Community of Practice• Apache• Eclipse
Eclipse Foundation
Differences: Services Offered
Governance
Development processes
IP Management rules
IT Infrastructure
Community development
Pooling financial resources
Eclipse Foundation
Charity (501.c3) vs Trade Association (501.c6)“… Mike has noted in his posts that Eclipse focuses on interacting
with the for-profit industry, which is what trade associations like Eclipse (and Linux Foundation, too) are for. They do a good job at
this task, and if your project's main goal is to interact with for-profit companies, then a trade association solution as a fiscal sponsor is probably right.
By contrast, non-profit charities like SPI and Conservancy focus on benefiting the general public. Every time a member project at Conservancy wants to do something, the question I ask is whether the plan helps make the software better (more available,
more usable, etc.) for everyone in the general public. It's not that charities *ignore* the for-profit corporate user base, but rather we focus first on the *individuals* who use and develop the software. ” Bradley Kuhn
Vert.x Google GroupJan. 10 2013
Eclipse Foundation
Governance of Foundation
• Charity vs Trade Association• Stakeholders/Membership (Board membership)• Meritocracy• Independent Advisors / Professional Staff
Eclipse Foundation
IP Management
• License selection and compatibility• Copyright aggregation (or not)
– CLA• IP due diligence• Committer records• Trademark ownership
Eclipse Foundation
IT InfrastructureIMO, any neutral foundation we go with should provide
a) Hosting for git repository, mirrorable to the _current_ project at github. Please no svn, cvs or mercurialb) Hosting for issue tracker. JIRA preferred. Don't like bugzilla.c) Hosting for mailing lists d) Hosted for project web sitee) Hosting for downloadsf) Hosting for public module repository - in Vert.x 2.0 this is likely to be a Maven repository.g) Ability to use external CI, e.g. CloudBees or Travish) Can accept pull requests via github
Tim FoxVert.x Google GroupJanuary 13, 2013
Eclipse Foundation2023-04-11 38
Software for Public Interest
Services Offered
Governance 501.c3Individual and organizational membership
Development Process Project Defined
IP Management Rules Project Responsibility
IT Infrastructure Project Responsibility
Community Development None
Pooling Financial Resources Yes, accepts donations on behalf of the project
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Software Freedom Conservatory
Services OfferedGovernance 501.c3
Professional StaffDevelopment Process Project Defined
IP Management Rules • Hold assets on project behalf• Contract negotiations• FLOSS copyright enforcement
IT Infrastructure Project Responsibility
Community Development Conference logistical support
Pooling Financial Resources Yes, accepts donations on behalf of the project
Eclipse Foundation2023-04-11 40
OutercurveServices Offered
Governance 501.c6Corporate membershipProfessional staff
Development Process Provides guidelines and best practices
IP Management Rules Contribution and assignment agreementsLicense agnosticTrademark ownership
IT Infrastructure Project Responsibility
Community Development Events, press support, mentorship
Pooling Financial Resources Yes
Eclipse Foundation2023-04-11 41
Now that I've gone through the whole thing, I see that if one really takes this to the logical conclusion, you'll go the way toward Apache/Eclipse style mechanisms. But then, one shouldn't have to make the whole leap in one go, right?
Kohsuke KawaguchiSource: Vert.x Google GroupJanuary 10, 2013
Eclipse Foundation2023-04-11 42
Apache Software Foundation
Services OfferedGovernance 501.c3
Individual membershipVolunteer operated
Development Process The Apache Way
IP Management Rules • Contribution agreements • Trademarks• Committer Records• Apache license requirements
IT Infrastructure Apache hosted forge
Community Development • Project Mentors• Conferences
Pooling Financial Resources No
Eclipse Foundation2023-04-11 43
Eclipse FoundationServices Offered
Governance 501.c6Corporate and Individual MembersProfession Staff
Development Process The Eclipse Way
IP Management Rules • IP Scanning• Trademarks• Committer Records• Eclipse license requirements
IT Infrastructure Eclipse hosted forge
Community Development • Project Mentors• Conferences• Press support• Marketplace
Pooling Financial Resources Yes
Eclipse Foundation2023-04-11 44
Why Does Open Source Governance Matter?
Vendor Neutral+
Predictability=
Open Collaboration