2004-04-18 18:33:55 +00:00
|
|
|
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
|
|
|
|
|
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
|
2003-11-02 05:06:55 +00:00
|
|
|
<html>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<head>
|
|
|
|
|
<title>GNOME Foundation Charter</title>
|
2004-04-18 18:33:55 +00:00
|
|
|
<meta name="cvsdate" content="$Date$" />
|
2003-11-02 05:06:55 +00:00
|
|
|
</head>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<body>
|
|
|
|
|
<h1>Draft Charter for The GNOME Foundation</h1>
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>Draft 0.61 (23 October 2000)</h2>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
This document describes the purpose, basic structure and operational
|
|
|
|
|
policies of a proposed GNOME foundation. Although certain issues are not
|
|
|
|
|
addressed fully, the core functions of the foundation are defined and
|
|
|
|
|
procedures for them are described.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
This document includes broad <q>mission level</q> statements and
|
|
|
|
|
operational provisions. We are in the process of creating Articles of
|
|
|
|
|
Incorporation and By-Laws that will incorporate this charter, cast in
|
|
|
|
|
stone our fundamental beliefs, and give us the flexibility to amend
|
|
|
|
|
implementation items.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
A ChangeLog and author's list are at the end of this document.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>Preface: Why a GNOME Foundation?</h2>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Since the project was started in 1998, GNOME has grown tremendously. The
|
|
|
|
|
technology has started to mature, the amount of code contributed has
|
|
|
|
|
exploded, the number of developers (also known as GNOME hackers) who are
|
|
|
|
|
contributing to GNOME has more than doubled. With the emergence of a
|
|
|
|
|
GNOME industry, and as corporate partners are embracing GNOME, the number
|
|
|
|
|
of hackers who are paid to work full-time on GNOME has grown
|
|
|
|
|
dramatically, in addition to the hundreds of volunteer hackers in the
|
|
|
|
|
community.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
As GNOME has grown, so have our goals. Over the next few years, we want
|
|
|
|
|
to offer a state-of-the-art, fully free desktop to many people who today
|
|
|
|
|
are not using computers because they are too expensive and too
|
|
|
|
|
complicated to use.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
In short, GNOME is growing up.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
To achieve our goals in a timely manner, the project will need more focus
|
|
|
|
|
than the current structure can offer. When GNOME was a smaller project,
|
|
|
|
|
Miguel was able to make most of the key decisions. Today, there is a need
|
|
|
|
|
for a forum that can provide GNOME, and the projects that make up GNOME,
|
|
|
|
|
with the structure and support they will need to continue to grow. We
|
|
|
|
|
need a more structured environment to smoothly integrate new citizens
|
|
|
|
|
into the community. The GNOME Foundation will provide this support. The
|
|
|
|
|
Foundation will also provide a place to resolve the inevitable conflicts
|
|
|
|
|
that arise in a diverse community. Equally important, the Foundation can
|
|
|
|
|
voice the decisions and positions of the GNOME project, and, therefore,
|
|
|
|
|
can act as a liaison with the press and corporations who want to be
|
|
|
|
|
involved with GNOME.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Most importantly, the GNOME Foundation will provide transparency and
|
|
|
|
|
representation. Whereas decisions in the past have often been made in an
|
|
|
|
|
ad-hoc fashion and in private conversations between a small number of
|
|
|
|
|
people, the foundation will provide a forum that is elected by the GNOME
|
|
|
|
|
community, that is accountable to that community, and that will conduct
|
|
|
|
|
its affairs in the open.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Mission Statement</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
The GNOME Foundation will work to further the goal of the GNOME project:
|
|
|
|
|
to create a computing platform for use by the general public that is
|
|
|
|
|
completely free software.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
To achieve this goal, the Foundation will coordinate releases of GNOME
|
|
|
|
|
and determine which projects are part of GNOME. The Foundation will act
|
|
|
|
|
as an official voice for the GNOME project, providing a means of
|
|
|
|
|
communication with the press and with commercial and noncommercial
|
|
|
|
|
organizations interested in GNOME software. The foundation may produce
|
|
|
|
|
educational materials and documentation to help the public learn about
|
|
|
|
|
GNOME software. In addition, it may sponsor GNOME-related technical
|
|
|
|
|
conferences, and represent GNOME at relevant conferences sponsored by
|
|
|
|
|
others, help create technical standards for the project and promote the
|
|
|
|
|
use and development of GNOME software.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>I. Principles of the GNOME Foundation</h2>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Open and Public</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
In almost every sense of the word, GNOME is an open project. This is one
|
|
|
|
|
of our greatest strengths, has always been, and should be the balefire by
|
|
|
|
|
which we plot our course into the future.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
The foundation should not be exclusionary or elitist. Every GNOME
|
|
|
|
|
contributor, however small his or her contribution, must have the
|
|
|
|
|
opportunity to participate in determining the direction and actions of
|
|
|
|
|
the project.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
The openness of GNOME has always been a point of pride for us, and an
|
|
|
|
|
important characteristic which distinguishes us from many of the other
|
|
|
|
|
open source projects out there. Anyone can become a contributor, write
|
|
|
|
|
access to our CVS does not involve trial by fire or other masonic
|
|
|
|
|
rituals, we don't use Access Control Lists, and we've always been
|
|
|
|
|
exceedingly good about folding talented newcomers in our arms and
|
|
|
|
|
welcoming them to the project. No resume required.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Major components of GNOME -- things we now consider to be absolutely core
|
|
|
|
|
to the project -- were begun by energetic individuals with the desire to
|
|
|
|
|
create something cool. Look at glade, zvt, libxml, dia, GNOME vfs,
|
|
|
|
|
libart, the desktop icons... all of these were created by people who had
|
|
|
|
|
not previously contributed heavily to the project, but who are now
|
|
|
|
|
considered to be among our heavy hitters.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
The GNOME foundation must not stifle the interest of outsiders. An
|
|
|
|
|
ill-conceived foundation could discourage outsider participation
|
|
|
|
|
directly, by establishing rules which limit the ability of potential
|
|
|
|
|
contributors to make their mark, or indirectly, by engendering an
|
|
|
|
|
alienating sense of elitism. The stained glass of the cathedral creates a
|
|
|
|
|
colorful spectacle for those inside, but from the outside, the building
|
|
|
|
|
is just a hulking grey edifice, intimidating and impenetrable.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
This principle has real, concrete meaning for the foundation: All
|
|
|
|
|
discussions must be publicly viewable, any person must have the
|
|
|
|
|
opportunity to contribute to the decision-making process, and every GNOME
|
|
|
|
|
contributor must have the direct ability to influence the decisions which
|
|
|
|
|
are made. The foundation must be democratic and friendly to those
|
|
|
|
|
responsible for making GNOME what it is.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>GNOME is Free Software</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
GNOME is part of the GNU project and supports the goals of the GNU
|
|
|
|
|
project as defined by the Free Software Foundation. Free software
|
|
|
|
|
licensing has always been a mainstay of GNOME, and we must ensure that
|
|
|
|
|
this tradition continues. GNOME will include only Free software.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>GNOME is a Meritocracy</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Participation in the foundation is intended only for those individuals who
|
|
|
|
|
are making contributions to the GNOME project and the software which makes
|
|
|
|
|
up GNOME. A corporation, organization or individual should not be granted
|
|
|
|
|
a place in the foundation unless its presence is justified by the merits
|
|
|
|
|
of its contribution. Money cannot buy influence in the GNOME project: show
|
|
|
|
|
us the code (or documentation, or translations, or leadership, or
|
|
|
|
|
webmastering...).
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
In the past, being a part of the GNOME project has simply meant
|
|
|
|
|
<q>I wrote some code</q> or <q>I hang out on the mailing lists and build
|
|
|
|
|
the thing from CVS frenetically every three hours.</q> There is no
|
|
|
|
|
reason to change this.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Build on What we Have (or: too much structure is poison)</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
In many ways, GNOME is a unique project. Comprised of dozens of autonomous
|
|
|
|
|
modules, GNOME has not been subject to iron-fisted structural
|
|
|
|
|
leadership. Furthermore, there are many pieces of software which are core
|
|
|
|
|
to GNOME which stand with one foot in our camp and one foot outside. There
|
|
|
|
|
really is no clear analogue to GNOME among most other free software
|
|
|
|
|
projects. GNOME is bigger than almost every other effort in existence ,
|
|
|
|
|
more loosely organized, and possibly faster growing. Plus, GNOME sits on
|
|
|
|
|
the frontier of the Linux application market, and is likely to continue to
|
|
|
|
|
face growing pains as we try to meet the needs of ISVs (Independent
|
|
|
|
|
Software Vendors) and others who are joining the movement.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
It would be impossible to impose a high degree of bureaucratic structure
|
|
|
|
|
onto a heretofore amorphous and somewhat anarchic community. And it
|
|
|
|
|
shouldn't be done, anyway. Let's not attempt to imitate some of the groups
|
|
|
|
|
which are smaller, or which had more structure in their beginnings. Any
|
|
|
|
|
new structure which the GNOME foundation provides, if taken too far, will
|
|
|
|
|
be artificial, ignored, or at worst: really really annoying to developers.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Furthermore, the foundation can have no real powers of enforcement;
|
|
|
|
|
compliance with foundation decision should be an act of good-faith. If
|
|
|
|
|
we've lost consensus to the point where we're regularly forcibly ejecting
|
|
|
|
|
people from the foundation and co-opting their projects, we're sunk
|
|
|
|
|
anyway.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Heavy bureaucracy is not in our DNA. And it shouldn't be. So let's not
|
|
|
|
|
try to graft an administrative superstructure onto the community we've
|
|
|
|
|
built. Furthermore, too high a level of administrative overhead will gum
|
|
|
|
|
up the works to the point where the foundation will completely cease to
|
|
|
|
|
function and become useless and vestigial.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Instead, the foundation will work with GNOME's strengths to make it
|
|
|
|
|
better. A foundation that provides cohesion, vision, direction, and enough
|
|
|
|
|
organization will be an incredible asset. A foundation that attempts to do
|
|
|
|
|
this, but hides the iron fist under a velvet glove will not. Such an
|
|
|
|
|
entity would likely be ignored, and words like <q>fork</q> would be
|
|
|
|
|
thrown around.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
The foundation should provide the project with just enough organization to
|
|
|
|
|
accomplish its goals effectively. Some level of structure will be
|
|
|
|
|
important for decision making, communication, and interacting with outside
|
|
|
|
|
parties.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Independence</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
The foundation must act in the best interests of GNOME, independent of
|
|
|
|
|
influence from outside organizations and corporations. No single entity
|
|
|
|
|
should have the ability to direct GNOME to its own ends.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>II. Tasks of the Foundation</h2>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Releasing GNOME, defining GNOME</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
The foundation bears the responsibility of coordinating each subsequent
|
|
|
|
|
release of GNOME. For each release, this will include setting a schedule
|
|
|
|
|
(whether or not it is overlooked), choosing the set of modules which are a
|
|
|
|
|
part of the release, and preparing the appropriate marketing materials.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
GNOME is a loose collection of independent projects. The foundation will
|
|
|
|
|
determine the set of modules which fall under the GNOME umbrella. Most
|
|
|
|
|
often, the foundation will endorse a project as a GNOME project simply by
|
|
|
|
|
including it in a release. In some cases, however, a project that is not
|
|
|
|
|
scheduled to be included in any particular release will be designated as a
|
|
|
|
|
part of GNOME. In these ways, the foundation will be <q>defining GNOME.</q>
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
It should be apparent that these two tasks (defining GNOME and doing
|
|
|
|
|
releases) are interrelated: most often, defining GNOME is just determining
|
|
|
|
|
which modules are a part of any given release.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Public Image and Voice</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
The foundation will be the principal entity with the ability to make
|
|
|
|
|
official public statements for GNOME, such as press releases. The
|
|
|
|
|
foundation will also be responsible for maintaining the <q>GNOME
|
|
|
|
|
brand,</q> and will have to determine the appropriate uses of the
|
|
|
|
|
associated trademarks. The foundation will also be a hub for
|
|
|
|
|
joint-marketing efforts by those organizations (corporate and non) which
|
|
|
|
|
want to make GNOME-related announcements. Regional groups, created to
|
|
|
|
|
promote GNOME in specific areas, may wish to make their own announcements
|
|
|
|
|
about their efforts.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Corporate and Organizational Point of Contact</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Companies and other organizations which want to communicate with the GNOME
|
|
|
|
|
project should be able to use the foundation as their first point of
|
|
|
|
|
contact. The foundation will be responsible for helping these
|
|
|
|
|
organizations understand the GNOME project and become involved. The
|
|
|
|
|
foundation will be vested with the power to represent GNOME in these
|
|
|
|
|
conversations.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
The foundation will also act as a forum for discussions between the
|
|
|
|
|
organizations and companies which have an interest in GNOME. There will be
|
|
|
|
|
a subgroup of the foundation which will include members from these
|
|
|
|
|
organizations to make this possible.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Standards Definition</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
As GNOME matures, it will become necessary to have an official set of
|
|
|
|
|
standards which define GNOME compliance, for ISVs and for
|
|
|
|
|
distributors. The foundation will be responsible for ratifying these
|
|
|
|
|
standards, and authorizing the application of the GNOME trademark to them.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Direction and Vision</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
The GNOME foundation will provide a sense of leadership and cohesive
|
|
|
|
|
direction to the GNOME project. The foundation will work to communicate a
|
|
|
|
|
vision and set of goals for the future releases of GNOME. These should be
|
|
|
|
|
communicated to the general public and to the project at large.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
As GNOME evolves, other duties which are appropriate and necessary for the
|
|
|
|
|
foundation to undertake will emerge. Before the board of directors of the
|
|
|
|
|
foundation takes on any major new duties, it shall consult with the
|
|
|
|
|
broader GNOME community.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Fund Receipt and Disbursement</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Individuals and organizations that want to make a monetary contribution
|
|
|
|
|
to the GNOME project will be able to do so by making a contribution to
|
|
|
|
|
the GNOME foundation. The foundation will be in charge of disbursing
|
|
|
|
|
these funds to the benefit of GNOME and, to the extent possible, in
|
|
|
|
|
accordance with the wishes of the benefactor.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>III. Basic Structure and Operation of the Foundation</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
The foundation will be global in scope, but incorporated in the United
|
|
|
|
|
States. Affiliated foundations, created for the purpose of promoting
|
|
|
|
|
GNOME, supporting developers or disbursement of funds, may be created in
|
|
|
|
|
many countries or geographic areas.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
The GNOME foundation is divided into three bodies: the Membership, the
|
|
|
|
|
Board of Directors, and the Advisory Board.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Membership</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
The Membership will be a large body made up of people who have made a
|
|
|
|
|
contribution to any module which is part of GNOME. The intent of the
|
|
|
|
|
Membership is to provide the opportunity for all contributors to have a
|
|
|
|
|
place and a voice in the GNOME foundation. The Membership will be open to
|
|
|
|
|
all people who want to be a member and who have made any kind of
|
|
|
|
|
contribution to any part of the GNOME project, with no membership fee,
|
|
|
|
|
and no requirement of organizational or corporate affiliation.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
The membership will have two responsibilities: electing the Board of
|
|
|
|
|
Directors, and issuing popular referenda on any issue under the
|
|
|
|
|
jurisdiction of the foundation, at any time (hopefully an infrequent
|
|
|
|
|
event).
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Board of Directors</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
The board is the primary decision-making body of the GNOME foundation. It
|
|
|
|
|
is responsible for ratifying all decisions the GNOME foundation
|
|
|
|
|
makes. These decisions can be overturned by referendum.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
The board will be made up of a small, limited number of people, elected
|
|
|
|
|
by the membership. New seats on the board may be made available as the
|
|
|
|
|
project grows, subject to approval by the board or referendum of the
|
|
|
|
|
membership.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
No single organization or company will be allowed to control more than
|
|
|
|
|
40% of the board seats, regardless of election results. In the event that
|
|
|
|
|
individuals affiliated with a corporation or organization hold more than
|
|
|
|
|
40% of the seats, affiliates from that corporation will be required to
|
|
|
|
|
resign until 40% is no longer held. Individuals affiliated with a company
|
|
|
|
|
or organization are people who are employees, officers, or members of the
|
|
|
|
|
board of directors of an organization; or have a significant consulting
|
|
|
|
|
relationship; or own at least 1% of the equity or debt, or derivatives
|
|
|
|
|
thereof, of a company.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Notwithstanding the above, members of the board of directors shall act on
|
|
|
|
|
behalf of all GNOME contributors in the best interest of the GNOME
|
|
|
|
|
project. Although board members may be affiliated with companies that
|
|
|
|
|
have an interest in the success of GNOME, they will not be considered
|
|
|
|
|
representatives of companies with which they are affiliated. The GNOME
|
|
|
|
|
Foundation Board of Advisors provides a forum for corporate
|
|
|
|
|
representation.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Advisory Board</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
The Advisory Board is made up of companies and organizations which have a
|
|
|
|
|
desire to participate in advising the foundation about releases and other
|
|
|
|
|
decisions. The Advisory Board will have no decision-making ability. The
|
|
|
|
|
Advisory Board is a place for its members to have open discussions about
|
|
|
|
|
their GNOME-related strategies. Membership in the forum is open to all
|
|
|
|
|
companies and groups who are interested in contributing to the GNOME
|
|
|
|
|
project, subject to the approval of the board of directors.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate members will pay a membership fee of $10,000 to join the
|
|
|
|
|
Advisory Board. There is no membership fee for non-profit organizations
|
|
|
|
|
or companies with fewer than 10 employees. Additionally, membership fees
|
|
|
|
|
may be waived upon request by the board of directors. We value
|
|
|
|
|
contributions of code and hackers resource much more than membership
|
|
|
|
|
dues!
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
From time to time, ad-hoc committees may be formed, formally or
|
|
|
|
|
informally, either by the board or the membership.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>IV. Board Meetings, Voting, Referendum and Election</h2>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Board Meetings & Votes</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Voting sessions of the board of directors will be formal, performed
|
|
|
|
|
either in-person, telephonically, via e-mail, or on IRC. This can be
|
|
|
|
|
cryptographically authenticated with a registry of public keys. A simple
|
|
|
|
|
majority is required to approve any measure. Often, decisions will be
|
|
|
|
|
reached by consensus.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Minutes shall be kept for all meetings of the board of directors. Votes
|
|
|
|
|
on all topics will be recorded and attributed. All of these records will
|
|
|
|
|
be archived and made publicly available immediately.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
On certain occasions, conversations within the GNOME Foundation will be
|
|
|
|
|
confidential. On those occasions, notes from meetings etc. may be edited
|
|
|
|
|
to maintain confidentiality. We will work to keep confidential
|
|
|
|
|
conversations down to a minimum.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Referendum</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
A referendum can be issued by any member of the foundation.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
To be accepted, a request for a referendum must be endorsed by 10% of the
|
|
|
|
|
Membership. The maximum number of valid endorsements from Members
|
|
|
|
|
affiliated (as defined above) with any one corporation or organization
|
|
|
|
|
shall be 5%.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
An electronic voting system will be established online, with members
|
|
|
|
|
voting on a web page or by e-mail. In order for a referendum to pass,
|
|
|
|
|
1/3d of the total membership must participate, and 2/3ds of the
|
|
|
|
|
participating members must approve. There will be a mailing list for all
|
|
|
|
|
of the members, and all referenda must be announced to the list by the
|
|
|
|
|
initiator before they are opened on the voting system. At least three
|
|
|
|
|
days must pass before the referendum is closed, and no referendum can
|
|
|
|
|
remain open for longer than fourteen days.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Elections and Board Size</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Elections for the board of directors will be regularly held every
|
|
|
|
|
year. Candidates for election must be members of the GNOME Foundation and
|
|
|
|
|
shall nominate themselves. Members may vote for a number of candidates
|
|
|
|
|
equal to the number of board slots that are available (in other words, if
|
|
|
|
|
there are 10 slots on the board of directors, then each member may vote
|
|
|
|
|
for up to 10 candidates).
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
The board shall be composed of those candidates who receive the highest
|
|
|
|
|
number of votes.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
The board of directors may be recalled by referendum, using the process
|
|
|
|
|
described above. If the board of directors is recalled by referendum, new
|
|
|
|
|
elections shall be held immediately.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Between elections, board vacancies or new board slots shall be filled by
|
|
|
|
|
appointment by the board of directors.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
The board of directors shall have at least 7 members and no more than 15
|
|
|
|
|
members. Prior to each election, the board of directors shall determine
|
|
|
|
|
the number of board seats for the next year. The initial board of
|
|
|
|
|
directors shall be composed of 11 members.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
If more than half of the elected candidates are affiliated with one
|
|
|
|
|
company (as defined above), elections returns shall be adjusted as
|
|
|
|
|
follows. Individuals who are affiliated with the company which has an
|
|
|
|
|
excess of representatives shall be removed based on the number of votes
|
|
|
|
|
they received until such individuals no longer hold a majority of the
|
|
|
|
|
seats on the board. Other candidates shall replace them, based on the
|
|
|
|
|
number of votes they received. (In other words, if there are 10 board
|
|
|
|
|
seats and 6 people from company X were elected, than the one person from
|
|
|
|
|
that company who received the fewest number of votes will be replaced by
|
|
|
|
|
the candidate who received the 11th highest number of votes).
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>V. Release Engineering / Defining GNOME</h2>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
The board of directors will be responsible for authorizing the release of
|
|
|
|
|
a new version of GNOME. The board will determine the set of modules
|
|
|
|
|
which will make up the release.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Operational management of the release may be handled by a board-appointed
|
|
|
|
|
committee or individual, made up of general Members and/or directors. The
|
|
|
|
|
membership will be able to affect all these decisions primarily by
|
|
|
|
|
participating in the discussions which lead up to them. In extreme cases,
|
|
|
|
|
a referendum can be used.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>VI. Funds</h2>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
One of the primary purposes of the GNOME foundation is to allow outsiders
|
|
|
|
|
to contribute financially to the continued development of GNOME. These
|
|
|
|
|
outsiders will make donations to the project, which will be disbursed by
|
|
|
|
|
the board, under the advice of the membership.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>VII. Bootstrapping the GNOME Foundation</h2>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
The membership will be populated with all the consenting members of the
|
|
|
|
|
GNOME-hackers mailing list, people holding CVS accounts, and anyone else
|
|
|
|
|
who speaks out and wants to join when asked.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
A committee shall be established by the current GNOME Steering Committee
|
|
|
|
|
to manage the membership list, add new members and oversee the elections.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
The first elections may be held prior to the incorporation of the
|
|
|
|
|
Foundation but shall be held no later than 90 days from the incorporation
|
|
|
|
|
of the GNOME Foundation. If the Foundation is incorporated prior to the
|
|
|
|
|
first elections, the GNOME Steering Committee shall appoint on interim
|
|
|
|
|
board of directors.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>VIII. Authors</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
This document was put together from contributions by many people. The
|
|
|
|
|
crucial first draft was written by Nat Friedman based on discussions he
|
2003-12-14 10:39:59 +00:00
|
|
|
had with Joe Shaw. This document is maintained by the GNOME Foundation
|
|
|
|
|
<a href="mailto:board@gnome.org">Board of directors</a>.
|
2003-11-02 05:06:55 +00:00
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Numerous patches were submitted by:
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Joe Shaw</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Linas Vepstas</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Maciej Stachowiak</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Havoc Pennington</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Daniel Veillard</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Telsa Gwynne</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Mike Prestner</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Jim Gettys</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Alan Cox</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Kelly </li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Frank Hecker</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Brian Behlendorff</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Robert Humphreys</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Rusty Conover</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Miguel de Icaza</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Elliott Lee</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Others</li>
|
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>Please let me know who I need to delete/add.</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h2>IX. Change log</h2>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Changes since draft 4.1:</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>minor line-edits throughout</li>
|
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h4>Mission statement</h4>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Rewrote mission statement. Removed sentence <q>GNOME Foundation will
|
|
|
|
|
oversee the technical direction of GNOME</q>.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h4>I. Principles</h4>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>Meritocracy:</p>
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
|
|
|
Participation in the foundation is intended only for those people who
|
|
|
|
|
are responsible for actual contributions to the software which makes up
|
|
|
|
|
GNOME.
|
|
|
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Change to: Participation in the foundation is intended only for those
|
|
|
|
|
individuals who are making contributions to the GNOME project and the
|
|
|
|
|
software which makes up GNOME.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Reason: previous language appears to exclude all non-hackers.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h4>III. Basic Structure</h4>
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
|
|
|
Board: qualified what it means to be <q>affiliated</q> with a
|
|
|
|
|
company: added materiality requirement for consultants.
|
|
|
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
|
|
|
Board: lowered the maximum number of people who can be associated with
|
|
|
|
|
any one company to 40% (previously 50%).
|
|
|
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
|
|
|
Board: clarified that board members do not represent their
|
|
|
|
|
employers.
|
|
|
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
|
|
|
Board: changed 1% ownership rule to include warrants and options.
|
|
|
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h4>IV. Board Meetings, Voting, Elections and Referendum</h4>
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Elections and Board Size: rewrote this. Removed slate provisions.</li>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Added provision that candidates must be members.</li>
|
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h4>VII. Bootstrapping the Foundation</h4>
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
|
|
|
<q>A committee shall be established by the current GNOME Steering
|
|
|
|
|
Committee to manage the membership list and add new members.</q> Added:
|
|
|
|
|
<q>and oversee the elections</q>.
|
|
|
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
|
|
|
<q>The first elections may be held prior to the incorporation of the
|
|
|
|
|
Foundation but shall be held no later than 90 days from the incorporation
|
|
|
|
|
of the GNOME Foundation. If the Foundation is incorporated prior to the
|
|
|
|
|
first elections, the GNOME Steering Committee shall appoint on interim
|
|
|
|
|
board of directors.</q> Made changes to account for elections prior to
|
|
|
|
|
incorporation and to remove slate provision.
|
|
|
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h4>VIII. Some open issues</h4>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Removed this section. Reason for change: no longer needed.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Changes since draft 4:</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>[missed a few]</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>- Added Authors listing</li>
|
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h4>Preface: Why a GNOME Foundation?:</h4>
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
<q>Since the project was started in 1998</q>.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Reason: avoid relative time reference.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li><q>the number of paid developers has grown dramatically</q></li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
<q>technology has STARTED TO mature</q>.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Reason: false advertising.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>introduced the word Developer and explained that we use Hackers as well.</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>added <q>We need a new structure to more smoothly integrate new citizens into the community</q></li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>changed: Over the next few years, we want to offer a state-of-the-art, fully free desktop to many people who today are not using computers</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>added <q>To achieve our goals in a timely manner, the project will need more focus than the curent structure can offer.</q></li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>changed: <q>...the inevitable conflicts that arise in a diverse community.</q></li>
|
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h3>Changes since draft 3:</h3>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Added Preface: Why a GNOME Foundation?</li>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Added Mission Statement</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>replaced <q>doesn't</q> by <q>does not</q> and made other minor word changes.</li>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<li>renumbered sections.</li>
|
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h4>I. Principles</h4>
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Renamed this to Principles of the GNOME Foundation and created
|
|
|
|
|
<q>II. Tasks of the GNOME Foundation</q>.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Reason: The principles and tasks are really two different things
|
|
|
|
|
that belong under separate headings.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Deleted introductory paragraph.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Reason: it tried to explain the link between Principles and Tasks.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h5>Open and Public:</h5>
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Deleted: We didn't get here by way of smoke-filled rooms and power
|
|
|
|
|
hierarchies. We got here because of people.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Reason: it's a negative statement that is somewhat
|
|
|
|
|
anachronistic. Second sentence is a platitude. Removed by request.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>Moved last paragraph to:</li>
|
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h5>Free Software:</h5>
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Added: GNOME is part of the GNU project and supports the goals of the
|
|
|
|
|
GNU project as defined by the Free Software Foundation.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Deleted <q>as determined by the Board of Directors</q>.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Reason: this is implementation wording. The board may delegate this
|
|
|
|
|
task to a committee or deal with it in some other way.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h5>Meritocracy</h5>
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
|
|
|
Changed <q>participation should be available only to those</q> to
|
|
|
|
|
<q>participation is intended for</q> by request.
|
|
|
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h5>Build on What we have</h5>
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Deleted: <q>Think: Emperor</q>.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Reason: obscure and unnecessary.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h5>Tasks:</h5>
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Moved "Fund Receipt & Disbursement" to the end.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Reason: less important function.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h4>II. Structure and Operation</h4>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h5>Advisory Board:</h5>
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
|
|
|
Modified: Corporate members will pay an membership fee of $10,000 to
|
|
|
|
|
join the Advisory Board. There is no membership fee for non-profit
|
|
|
|
|
organizations or companies with less than 10 employees. Additionally,
|
|
|
|
|
membership fees may be waived upon request by the board of directors. We
|
|
|
|
|
value contributions of code and hackers resource much more than
|
|
|
|
|
membership dues!
|
|
|
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
<h5>III. Board Meetings, Voting, Elections and Referendum</h5>
|
|
|
|
|
<ul>
|
|
|
|
|
<li>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Added Board Meetings section, which includes openness and
|
|
|
|
|
confidentiality clause.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
|
|
Reason: moved from the Principles Section, where it didn't belong,
|
|
|
|
|
since this is operational.
|
|
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
|
</li>
|
|
|
|
|
</ul>
|
|
|
|
|
</body>
|
|
|
|
|
</html>
|
