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Re: Textpattern Legal Entity
Hmmm, we need to get back onto this. Would be interested to hear Stef and Robert’s opinions on it all.
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Re: Textpattern Legal Entity
I’m no lawyer, but some kind of legal entity is something I’d love to have, if nothing else than for the security and peace of mind at being able to lodge domain names with it that have more than one person holding the renewal keys.
I’ve only ever been employed or part of a small Ltd company (with all the paperwork schmuckus that goes with it) so only have limited exposure to the kind of thing being talked about here. In terms of structure, dunno, but the Tiki people seem to have most of the bases covered. And I’ve already mentioned my aims to keep the project light, nimble and capable in the spirit of its “Just Write” foundations. Any other aims and objectives around this are fine by me if someone wants to draft some more complete ideas from what’s been suggested so far.
I’m guessing legal minimum for most types of organisation — however small — would be some kind of Board made up of at least one Director and one Secretary: paper titles only. Then I guess membership would either be free for those that want to be affiliated with the group, or paying a small denomination permits becoming some kind of associate Member and the benefits that entails. Which are, ummm, what? Voting rights to nominate or change leadership? More clout in the direction of the project? Greater roles of responsibility for some part of the project with the prestige that comes with it? Dividends? A Textpattern badge?
Whichever way it’s sliced, it all sounds terribly formal. I’d prefer to go for the most fluid option available to us so there are as few legal hoops to jump through and minimal entry barriers for people who have time and energy to get involved. Nothing dries up creativity / desire to help as much as having someone say “sure you can, but first you need to stand on one leg and sing your country’s national anthem while juggling piranhas… which you have to buy first.”
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Re: Textpattern Legal Entity
I could ask our company accountant to look into it, but…
- she hasn’t set a NPO up before.
- I would have to pay her for her time
- it would be UK-based
Let me know if you want to proceed?
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Re: Textpattern Legal Entity
philwareham wrote #294925:
I could ask our company accountant to look into it, but…
Let me know if you want to proceed?
- she hasn’t set a NPO up before.
there might be a simple form / template one can follow
- I would have to pay her for her time
maybe we use summer fund for this or we can crowd source for funds. (what would be the estimated costs)
- it would be UK-based
+1
…. texted postive
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Re: Textpattern Legal Entity
philwareham wrote #294925:
I could ask our company accountant to look into it, but…
- she hasn’t set a NPO up before.
- I would have to pay her for her time
- it would be UK-based
I think a non-dev should do this, because devs have plenty to do and this entity could be time-consuming just when the devs don’t want it. I’d volunteer but I’m very busy for the next month, flitting, and after that I have other priorities but as I am useless at helping with forum questions but like Textpattern, it should be someone like me, imho, who should make this happen. Els offered her services (book-keeping and maybe other?) which are invaluable and she’s based in the Netherlands. As Stef mentioned a while back, the UK and USA approach to small business leaves a lot to be desired. (Hey, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying Els is someone like me!)
Just my 2p. This thread stalled and although your suggestion would get it moving, Phil, I personally don’t think we are quite ready to splash the cash in that way just yet. But also not sure what to do next. I will help with this if necessary but you won’t see me much for a month.
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Re: Textpattern Legal Entity
OK thanks, well I’m off on holiday from next week for a fortnight, so I will pick this up on my return and see the mood in the community then.
I’m not fussed where the organisation is based, as long as the country of origin is favourable to the kind of organisation we want to set up (a not-for-profit I think it’s titled).
I also don’t think there should be a paid membership or anything too complicated. We just need a standalone entry that owns the domain name and suchlike, with a small group of people overseeing it.
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Re: Textpattern Legal Entity
Something for everyone to read… Forming a software foundation? Think again – not that I think we shouldn’t do this but it doesn’t hurt to know more.
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Re: Textpattern Legal Entity
michaelkpate wrote #294936:
Something for everyone to read… Forming a software foundation? Think again – not that I think we shouldn’t do this but it doesn’t hurt to know more.
I had thought of that option, but it sounds like by joining an existing entity such as Apache might well be one possible route.
…. texted postive
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Re: Textpattern Legal Entity
Good link, Michael.
The Software Freedom Conservancy is well suited to handle all admin, copyright, domain problems that started these Foundation comments. It seems ideal to help Textpattern grow just so long as people don’t want to make any money. It’s strictly non-profit. It helps promote, improve, develop, and defend Free, Libre, and Open Source Software (FLOSS) projects. Textpattern would seem a good candidate having been long established with an active, though small user base. All devs should read all three pages of the Membership section and decide whether to apply.
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Re: Textpattern Legal Entity
I am currently travelling and returning home tomorrow at which time I want to go through thi thread again. I think that we have many options and we will make the right choice.
Yiannis
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