1024 lines
42 KiB
HTML
1024 lines
42 KiB
HTML
<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en">
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<title>The GNOME Foundation: Charter</title>
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<table BORDER=2 CELLPADDING=5 WIDTH="595" NOSAVE >
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<td VALIGN=TOP NOSAVE>
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<center>
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<a href="http://www.gnome.org">
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<img SRC="gnome.jpg" ALT="" height=250 width=198 border=0></a><img
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SRC="text.png" ALT="The GNOME Foundation" height=198 width=354>
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<center>
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<a href="index.html">Home</a> :
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<a href="press.html">Press</a> :
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<a href="organization.html">Organization</a> :
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Documentation :
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<a href="membership.html">Membership</a> :
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<a href="elections.html">Elections</a> :
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<a href="directory.html">Directory</a>
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</center>
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<br>
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<center>
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<a href="documentation.html">Index</a> :
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Charter :
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<a href="faq.html">FAQ</a>
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<!-- End of Boilerplate -->
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<br>
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<h2 align="center">
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Draft Charter for The GNOME Foundation
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</h2>
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<h3 align="center">
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Draft 0.61 (23 October 2000)
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</h3>
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<br>
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<br>
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<P>
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This document describes the purpose,
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basic structure and operational policies of a proposed GNOME
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foundation. Although certain issues are not addressed fully, the core
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functions of the foundation are defined and procedures for them are
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described.
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">This document includes broad "mission
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level" statements and operational provisions. We are in the
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process of creating Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws that will
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incorporate this charter, cast in stone our fundamental beliefs, and
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give us the flexibility to amend implementation items.</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">A changelog and author's list are at
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the end of this document.</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">================================</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">PREFACE: Why a GNOME Foundation?</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">================================</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Since the project was started in 1998,
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GNOME has grown tremendously. The technology has started to mature,
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the amount of code contributed has exploded, the number of developers
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(also known as GNOME hackers) who are contributing to GNOME has more
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than doubled. With the emergence of a GNOME industry, and as
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corporate partners are embracing GNOME, the number of hackers who are
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paid to work full-time on GNOME has grown dramatically, in addition
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to the hundreds of volunteer hackers in the community.</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">As GNOME has grown, so have our goals.
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Over the next few years, we want to offer a state-of-the-art, fully
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free desktop to many people who today are not using computers because
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they are too expensive and too complicated to use.</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">In short, GNOME is growing up.
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">To achieve our goals in a timely
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manner, the project will need more focus than the current structure
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can offer. When GNOME was a smaller project, Miguel was able to make
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most of the key decisions. Today, there is a need for a forum that
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can provide GNOME, and the projects that make up GNOME, with the
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structure and support they will need to continue to grow. We need a
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more structured environment to smoothly integrate new citizens into
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the community. The GNOME Foundation will provide this support. The
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Foundation will also provide a place to resolve the inevitable
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conflicts that arise in a diverse community. Equally important, the
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Foundation can voice the decisions and positions of the GNOME
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project, and, therefore, can act as a liaison with the press and
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corporations who want to be involved with GNOME.</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Most importantly, the GNOME Foundation
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will provide transparency and representation. Whereas decisions in
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the past have often been made in an ad-hoc fashion and in private
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conversations between a small number of people, the foundation will
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provide a forum that is elected by the GNOME community, that is
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accountable to that community, and that will conduct its affairs in
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the open.</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">=================</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Mission Statement</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">=================</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">The GNOME Foundation will work to
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further the goal of the GNOME project: to create a computing platform
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for use by the general public that is completely free software.</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">To achieve this goal, the Foundation
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will coordinate releases of GNOME and determine which projects are
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part of GNOME. The Foundation will act as an official voice for the
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GNOME project, providing a means of communication with the press and
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with commercial and noncommercial organizations interested in GNOME
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software. The foundation may produce educational materials and
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documentation to help the public learn about GNOME software. In
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addition, it may sponsor GNOME-related technical conferences, and
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represent GNOME at relevant conferences sponsored by others, help
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create technical standards for the project and promote the use and
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development of GNOME software.
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">======================================</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">I. Principles of the GNOME Foundation</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">======================================</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Open and Public</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">---------------</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">In almost every sense of the word,
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GNOME is an open project. This is one of our greatest strengths, has
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always been, and should be the balefire by which we plot our course
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into the future.
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">The foundation should not be
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exclusionary or elitist. Every GNOME contributor, however small his
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or her contribution, must have the opportunity to participate in
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determining the direction and actions of the project.
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">The openness of GNOME has always been a
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point of pride for us, and an important characteristic which
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distinguishes us from many of the other open source projects out
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there. Anyone can become a contributor, write access to our CVS does
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not involve trial by fire or other masonic rituals, we don't use
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Access Control Lists, and we've always been exceedingly good about
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folding talented newcomers in our arms and welcoming them to the
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project. No resume required.
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Major components of GNOME -- things we
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now consider to be absolutely core to the project -- were begun by
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energetic individuals with the desire to create something cool. Look
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at glade, zvt, libxml, dia, GNOME vfs, libart, the desktop icons...
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all of these were created by people who had not previously
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contributed heavily to the project, but who are now considered to be
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among our heavy hitters.
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">The GNOME foundation must not stifle
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the interest of outsiders. An ill-conceived foundation could
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discourage outsider participation directly, by establishing rules
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which limit the ability of potential contributors to make their mark,
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or indirectly, by engendering an alienating sense of elitism. The
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stained glass of the cathedral creates a colorful spectacle for those
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inside, but from the outside, the building is just a hulking grey
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edifice, intimidating and impenetrable.
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">This principle has real, concrete
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meaning for the foundation: All discussions must be publicly
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viewable, any person must have the opportunity to contribute to the
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decision-making process, and every GNOME contributor must have the
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direct ability to influence the decisions which are made. The
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foundation must be democratic and friendly to those responsible for
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making GNOME what it is.
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">GNOME is Free Software
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">----------------------
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">GNOME is part of the GNU project and
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supports the goals of the GNU project as defined by the Free Software
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Foundation. Free software licensing has always been a mainstay of
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GNOME, and we must ensure that this tradition continues. GNOME will
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include only Free software.</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">GNOME is a Meritocracy
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">----------------------
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Participation in the foundation is
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intended only for those individuals who are making contributions to
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the GNOME project and the software which makes up GNOME. A
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corporation, organization or individual should not be granted a place
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in the foundation unless its presence is justified by the merits of
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its contribution. Money cannot buy influence in the GNOME project:
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show us the code (or documentation, or translations, or leadership,
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or webmastering...).
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">In the past, being a part of the GNOME
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project has simply meant "I wrote some code" or "I
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hang out on the mailing lists and build the thing from CVS
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frenetically every three hours." There is no reason to change
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this.
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Build on What we Have (or: too much
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structure is poison)</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">--------------------------------------------------------
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">In many ways, GNOME is a unique
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project. Comprised of dozens of autonomous modules, GNOME has not
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been subject to iron-fisted structural leadership. Furthermore, there
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are many pieces of software which are core to GNOME which stand with
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one foot in our camp and one foot outside. There really is no clear
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analogue to GNOME among most other free software projects. GNOME is
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bigger than almost every other effort in existence , more loosely
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organized, and possibly faster growing. Plus, GNOME sits on the
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frontier of the Linux application market, and is likely to continue
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to face growing pains as we try to meet the needs of ISVs
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(Independent Software Vendors) and others who are joining the
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movement.</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">It would be impossible to impose a high
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degree of bureaucratic structure onto a heretofore amorphous and
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somewhat anarchic community. And it shouldn't be done, anyway. Let's
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not attempt to imitate some of the groups which are smaller, or which
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had more structure in their beginnings. Any new structure which the
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GNOME foundation provides, if taken too far, will be artificial,
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ignored, or at worst: really really annoying to developers.
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Furthermore, the foundation can have no
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real powers of enforcement; compliance with foundation decision
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should be an act of good-faith. If we've lost consensus to the point
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where we're regularly forcibly ejecting people from the foundation
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and co-opting their projects, we're sunk anyway.
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Heavy bureaucracy is not in our DNA.
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And it shouldn't be. So let's not try to graft an administrative
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superstructure onto the community we've built. Furthermore, too high
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a level of administrative overhead will gum up the works to the point
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where the foundation will completely cease to function and become
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useless and vestigial.
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Instead, the foundation will work with
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GNOME's strengths to make it better. A foundation that provides
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cohesion, vision, direction, and enough organization will be an
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incredible asset. A foundation that attempts to do this, but hides
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the iron fist under a velvet glove will not. Such an entity would
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likely be ignored, and words like "fork" would be thrown
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around.
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">The foundation should provide the
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project with just enough organization to accomplish its goals
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effectively. Some level of structure will be important for decision
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making, communication, and interacting with outside parties.
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Independence
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">------------
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">The foundation must act in the best
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interests of GNOME, independent of influence from outside
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organizations and corporations. No single entity should have the
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ability to direct GNOME to its own ends.
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">===========================</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">II. Tasks of the Foundation
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">===========================
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Releasing GNOME, defining GNOME
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">-------------------------------
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">The foundation bears the responsibility
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of coordinating each subsequent release of GNOME. For each release,
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this will include setting a schedule (whether or not it is
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overlooked), choosing the set of modules which are a part of the
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release, and preparing the appropriate marketing materials.
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">GNOME is a loose collection of
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independent projects. The foundation will determine the set of
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modules which fall under the GNOME umbrella. Most often, the
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foundation will endorse a project as a GNOME project simply by
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including it in a release. In some cases, however, a project that is
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not scheduled to be included in any particular release will be
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designated as a part of GNOME. In these ways, the foundation will be
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"defining GNOME."
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">It should be apparent that these two
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tasks (defining GNOME and doing releases) are interrelated: most
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often, defining GNOME is just determining which modules are a part of
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any given release.
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Public Image and Voice
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">-----------------------
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">The foundation will be the principal
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entity with the ability to make official public statements for GNOME,
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such as press releases. The foundation will also be responsible for
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maintaining the "GNOME brand," and will have to determine
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the appropriate uses of the associated trademarks. The foundation
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will also be a hub for joint-marketing efforts by those organizations
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(corporate and non) which want to make GNOME-related announcements.
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Regional groups, created to promote GNOME in specific areas, may wish
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to make their own announcements about their efforts.</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Corporate and Organizational Point of
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Contact</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">---------------------------------------------
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Companies and other organizations which
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want to communicate with the GNOME project should be able to use the
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foundation as their first point of contact. The foundation will be
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responsible for helping these organizations understand the GNOME
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project and become involved. The foundation will be vested with the
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power to represent GNOME in these conversations.
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">The foundation will also act as a forum
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for discussions between the organizations and companies which have an
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interest in GNOME. There will be a subgroup of the foundation which
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will include members from these organizations to make this possible.
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Standards Definition
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">--------------------
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">As GNOME matures, it will become
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necessary to have an official set of standards which define GNOME
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compliance, for ISVs and for distributors. The foundation will be
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responsible for ratifying these standards, and authorizing the
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application of the GNOME trademark to them.
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Direction and Vision
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">--------------------
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
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</P>
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<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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 STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Fund Receipt and Disbursement
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">-----------------------------
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">===================================================</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">III. Basic Structure and Operation of
|
|
the Foundation</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">===================================================
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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 STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">The GNOME foundation is divided into
|
|
three bodies: the Membership, the Board of Directors, and the
|
|
Advisory Board.
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Membership
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">----------
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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 STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Board of Directors
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">------------------
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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 STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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 STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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 STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Advisory Board</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">---------------
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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 STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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 STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">From time to time, ad-hoc committees
|
|
may be formed, formally or informally, either by the board or the
|
|
membership.
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">===================================================</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">IV. Board Meetings, Voting, Referendum
|
|
and Election</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">===================================================</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Board Meetings & Votes</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">----------------------</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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 STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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 STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Referendum
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">----------
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">A referendum can be issued by any
|
|
member of the foundation.
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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 STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Elections and Board Size
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">------------------------
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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 STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">The board shall be composed of those
|
|
candidates who receive the highest number of votes.
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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 STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Between elections, board vacancies or
|
|
new board slots shall be filled by appointment by the board of
|
|
directors.
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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 STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">=======================================</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">V. Release Engineering / Defining GNOME
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">=======================================</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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 STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">=========</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">VI. Funds
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">=========</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">=======================================</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">VII. Bootstrapping the GNOME Foundation</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">=======================================
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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 STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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 STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">=============</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">VIII. Authors</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">=============</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">This document was put together from
|
|
contributions by many people. The crucial first draft was written by
|
|
Nat Friedman based on discussions he had with Joe Shaw. The current
|
|
maintainer of this document is Bart Decrem, bart@eazel.com.
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Numerous patches were submitted by:
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Joe Shaw</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Linas Vepstas</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Maciej Stachowiak</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Havoc Pennington</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Daniel Veillard</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Telsa Gwynne</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Mike Prestner</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Jim Gettys</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Alan Cox</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Kelly
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Frank Hecker</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Brian Behlendorff</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Robert Humphreys</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Rusty Conover</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Miguel de Icaza</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Elliott Lee</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Others</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Please let me know who I need to
|
|
delete/add.</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">==============</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">IX. Change log</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">==============</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">-----------------------</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Changes since draft 4.1:</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">-----------------------</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- minor line-edits throughout</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Mission statement</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">-------------</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Rewrote mission statement. Removed
|
|
sentence "GNOME Foundation will oversee the technical direction
|
|
of GNOME".
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">I.Principles</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">------------</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Meritocracy:</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- Participation in the foundation is
|
|
intended only for those people who are responsible for actual
|
|
contributions to the software which makes up GNOME.
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">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 STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Reason: previous language appears to
|
|
exclude all non-hackers.</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">III. Basic Structure</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">---------------</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- Board: qualified what it means to be
|
|
"affiliated" with a company: added materiality requirement
|
|
for consultants.</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- Board: lowered the maximum number of
|
|
people who can be associated with any one company to 40% (previously
|
|
50%).</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- Board: clarified that board members
|
|
do not represent their employers.</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- Board: changed 1% ownership rule to
|
|
include warrants and options.</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">IV. Board Meetings, Voting, Elections
|
|
and Referendum</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">------------------------------------------------------</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- Elections and Board Size: rewrote
|
|
this. Removed slate provisions.</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- Added provision that candidates must
|
|
be members.</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">VII. Bootstrapping the Foundation</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">-----------------------------------</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- "A committee shall be
|
|
established by the current GNOME Steering Committee to manage the
|
|
membership list and add new members." Added: "and oversee
|
|
the elections".</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- "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." Made changes to account for elections prior to
|
|
incorporation and to remove slate provision.</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">VIII. Some open issues</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">-----------------------</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Removed this section. Reason for
|
|
change: no longer needed.</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">----------------------</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Changes since draft 4:
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">----------------------</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">[missed a few]</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- Added Authors listing</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Preface: Why a GNOME Foundation?:</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- "Since the project was started
|
|
in 1998". Reason: avoid relative time reference.</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- "the number of paid developers
|
|
has grown dramatically"</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- "technology has STARTED TO
|
|
mature". Reason: false advertising.</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- introduced the word Developer and
|
|
explained that we use Hackers as well.</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- added "We need a new structure
|
|
to more smoothly integrate new citizens into the community"</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- 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</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- added "To achieve our goals in a
|
|
timely manner, the project will need more focus than the curent
|
|
structure can offer."</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- changed: "...the inevitable
|
|
conflicts that arise in a diverse</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">community."</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">----------------------</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Changes since draft 3:</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">----------------------</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- Added Preface: Why a GNOME
|
|
Foundation?</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- Added Mission Statement</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">replaced "doesn't" by "does
|
|
not" and made other minor word changes.</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">renumbered sections.</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">I.Principles</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- Renamed this to Principles of the
|
|
GNOME Foundation and created "II. Tasks of the GNOME
|
|
Foundation". Reason: The principles and tasks are really two
|
|
different things that belong under separate headings..</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- Deleted introductory paragraph.
|
|
Reason: it tried to explain the link between Principles and Tasks.
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Open and Public:</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- Deleted: We didn't get here by way of
|
|
smoke-filled rooms and power hierarchies. We got here because of
|
|
people. Reason: it's a negative statement that is somewhat
|
|
anachronistic. Second sentence is a platitude. Removed by request.
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- Moved last paragraph to
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Free Software:</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- Added: GNOME is part of the GNU
|
|
project and supports the goals of the GNU project as defined by the
|
|
Free Software Foundation.</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- Deleted "as determined by the
|
|
Board of Directors". Reason: this is implementation wording. The
|
|
board may delegate this task to a committee or deal with it in some
|
|
other way.</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Meritocracy:</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- Changed "participation should be
|
|
available only to those" to "participation is intended for"
|
|
by request.</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Build on What we have:</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- Deleted: "Think: Emperor ".
|
|
Reason: obscure and unnecessary.</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Tasks:</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- Moved "Fund Receipt &
|
|
Disbursement" to the end. Reason: less important function.</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">II. Structure and Operation</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">-----------------------</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">Advisory Board:</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">- 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!</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in"><BR>
|
|
</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">III. Board Meetings, Voting, Elections
|
|
and Referendum</P>
|
|
<P STYLE="margin-bottom: 0in">------------------------------------------------------</P>
|
|
<P>
|
|
Added Board Meetings section, which
|
|
includes openness and confidentiality clause. Reason: moved from the
|
|
Principles Section, where it didn't belong, since this is
|
|
operational.
|
|
</P>
|
|
|
|
</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
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<!-- Start of Boilerplate -->
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<tr>
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<td>
|
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<center><font size=-1>This site is maintained by
|
|
<a href="mailto:membership-committee@gnome.org">the GNOME Foundation Membership and Elections Committee</a>
|
|
and was designed by <a href="mailto:jpsc@users.sourceforge.net">JP
|
|
Schnapper-Casteras</a> and <a href="mailto:bart@eazel.com">Bart Decrem</a>.</font></center>
|
|
</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
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</table>
|
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</center>
|
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</body>
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</html>
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