[Bf-committers] Blender Foundation - softwarefreedom.org

[Ton Roosendaal]

Hi devs,

Blender Foundation has signed up an agreement with The Software  
Freedom Law Center, so they can officially help or advice us for any  
future cases when legalities might arise.

This is also related to my investigation of developer agreements. I'm  
reviewing the Harmony Agreements project and discuss with them what it  
would possibly benefit Blender.
http://harmonyagreements.org/overview.html

You probably know I'm a very relaxed and non-paranoid person. I don't  
think we're being at much risk, nor am I afraid for lawyers ever, nor  
do I like it much to force our contributors to give up the rather  
informal freedom here and make them sign complex agreements.

On the other hand, it's the Foundation's responsibility to ensure  
Blender developers can safely and happily work, and to ensure Blender  
itself and its future is protected in the best way possible. With  
Blender becoming a more relevant alternative for commercial products,  
it's only a matter of time for some zealot to try out how to harm our  
project legally.

Here's some tips I've learned sofar for developers to avoid;

- Be careful with referring to commercial products. All of these  
typically have EULAs that forbid to investigate the products for any  
other reason than to use them.

- If you refer to products or technology, ensure it's public and free  
info. Include the links to such docs or web pages.

- Always document your progress and designs and publish it in the  
earliest possible stage.

- Don't mention (nor do) investigation of public patent databases  
ever, unless you already evidently knew it had to be done.

- If you're in doubt whether your work might get risky industry  
attention, arrange with me to have it published and committed under  
"BF copyright". Even though that won't waive your liability from  
flagrant violations, it'll at least makes the BF position more clear  
in a future.

- If you ever get contacted by a company or laywers firm about patents  
or IP issues, contact me individually immediate, and I'll hook you up  
with softwarefreedom.org. :)

Thanks!

-Ton-

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Ton Roosendaal  Blender Foundation   ton at blender.org    www.blender.org
Blender Institute   Entrepotdok 57A  1018AD Amsterdam   The Netherlands