Re: Invited expert and CG Contributor agreements

> On Dec 16, 2014, at 12:47 , Sam Ruby <rubys@intertwingly.net> wrote:
> 
> On 12/16/14 2:24 PM, David Singer wrote:
>> [changing the subject as this is a new can of worms]
>> 
>>> On Dec 16, 2014, at 10:44 , Sam Ruby <rubys@intertwingly.net>
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Use case: should I ever become unemployed (to be clear: my company
>>> seems happy with me, but many companies do periodic "reductions in
>>> force" with no apparent rhyme or reason), I would still be
>>> interested in working on the URL specification; and would be
>>> willing to sign a CLA like the ASF's, but would not be willing to
>>> sign the current Invited Experts agreement.
>> 
>> I assume the problematic part is this?
>> 
>> "The Invited Expert agrees to refrain from creating derivative works
>> that include the Invited Expert's contributions when those derivative
>> works are likely to cause confusion about the status of the W3C work
>> or create risks of non-interoperability with a W3C Recommendation.
>> «Branching» is one example of a non-permissible derivative work.”
>> 
>> I think this is something we are unlikely to enforce. If I own the
>> copyright in my contributions (and I do), I cannot then be
>> constrained in what I do with something I own, reasonably, can I?
> 
> Jeff is correct: regarding agreeing in advance.
> 
> http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-w3process/2014Dec/0089.html
> 
> As to "unlikely to enforce", I've been burned in the past by an agreement saying one thing and the company on the other saying another, quite publicly, in writing, and on stage.  If the W3C is unlikely to enforce this, then it shouldn't be in the agreement.  Period.

I agree. A test would be that we should be at least willing to send an admonishing/request-to-desist email; if we wouldn’t even do that, then we should drop the statement. I don’t think we would, unless the relationship with the IE was already falling apart for other reasons. So I am with you.


David Singer
Manager, Software Standards, Apple Inc.

Received on Wednesday, 17 December 2014 17:33:05 UTC