Re: [tdf-discuss] [SC] How to define "Membership" within TDF?

Gianluca Turconi wrote:
> > > Hypothetical example: Google Corp. develops a large chunk of code for
> > > LibreOffice. It's an important contribution, of course, and Google would
> > > belong to the wider LibO community, but is this big contribution
> > > enough to
> > > join the steering group of TDF?
> >
> > No - but it enough for those people at google, who contributed this code
> > to be eligible for a seat in the board. And it is enough to have a
> > vote at board elections.
>
> Wow, that last sentence is *exactly* what I *don't* want. :)
>
> Such informal approach is impracticable when a *real* Foundation has
> to take decisions in
> order to legally defend the base code, create a sure development
> roadmap (or nominate who create the roadmap)
> and decide about controversial alliances.
>
> Stricter initial rules make stronger organizations in the long run.
Hi Gianluca,

hm, I guess most rules can be gamed, by any sufficiently determined
adversary - so I would favour simple, effective bylaws, and use
common sense otherwise.

Additionally, you want to provide the proverbial Big Corp some
incentive to join - note that this was one specific shortcoming of
the OOo project. If they don't see a chance to have at least some
say, why should they sponsor developers in the first place?

Gnome e.g. has the advisory board, where corporations (in contrast
to individual members) are grouped:

http://live.gnome.org/AdvisoryBoard

Institutional membership to Gnome has an annual fee (some lower
5-digit figure, IIRC), that allows the foundation to cover
administrative costs, hold a conference etc. Personal membership,
though, should have low/zero annual cost.

Also, with the proposed membership committee, there'll be humans
having the final say over who's becoming a member and who's not -
pick that group wisely, and I don't see much issues with the
process. ;)

Cheers,

-- Thorsten

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