[Opensim-dev] The Overte Foundation for OpenSimulator (Justin Clark-Casey)

Sat Jul 2 22:13:36 UTC 2011

Opem Sim is a BSD licensed project. BSD is a permissive license that doesn't
stop anyone from making closed sourced version. So in that respect nothing
changes no matter if the copyright is assigned to a foundation or not.

On Sat, Jul 2, 2011 at 8:22 AM, Snowcrash Short
<snowcrash.short at gmail.com>wrote:

> Hi
>
> Since IANAL, I have a couple of questions.
>
> Usually when I encounter these kinds of licenses, they also imply that the
> foundation obtains a right to re-license the copyrighIted material, since
> the foundation has a separate copyright and thus may produce a copy under a
> separate license. Will this also be the case for Overte?
>
> What about the submissions made prior to license policy, will Overte
> retroactively try to get the contributors to sign such a license?
>
> My goal here is to ensure that OpenSim will remain free.
>
> /Snowcrash
>
>
> On Fri, Jul 1, 2011 at 12:32 AM, Andrew Hughes <
> andrew.hughes at designingdigitally.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi Guys,
>>
>> We would like to donate funds also to the Opensim Dev project. Please let
>> me know when this is possible. Thanks!
>>
>>
>>    Have a creative day,
>>
>>
>> Andrew Hughes
>> President
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>> On Thu, Jun 30, 2011 at 6:26 PM, Justin Clark-Casey <
>> jjustincc at googlemail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks very much for the offer, Justin.  If it's okay, I'll let you know
>>> when we have a donation channel established. This might take a little while
>>> since we're in the holiday season at the moment and various people are away.
>>>
>>> -- Justin
>>>
>>> On 30/06/11 16:25, Justin Lyon wrote:
>>>
>>>> Justin,
>>>>
>>>> Simudyne would be willing to donate some funds to help set-up the Overte
>>>> Foundation. What would you need?
>>>>
>>>> Best,
>>>> Justin
>>>>
>>>> On 30 Jun 2011, at 13:00, opensim-dev-request at lists.**berlios.de<opensim-dev-request at lists.berlios.de>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>  Send Opensim-dev mailing list submissions to
>>>>>        opensim-dev at lists.berlios.de
>>>>>
>>>>> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>>>>>        https://lists.berlios.de/**mailman/listinfo/opensim-dev<https://lists.berlios.de/mailman/listinfo/opensim-dev>
>>>>> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>>>>>        opensim-dev-request at lists.**berlios.de<opensim-dev-request at lists.berlios.de>
>>>>>
>>>>> You can reach the person managing the list at
>>>>>        opensim-dev-owner at lists.**berlios.de<opensim-dev-owner at lists.berlios.de>
>>>>>
>>>>> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>>>>> than "Re: Contents of Opensim-dev digest..."
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Today's Topics:
>>>>>
>>>>>   1. Re: Built libbullet shared object libraries for Linux but
>>>>>      this isn't what you wanted! (Justin Clark-Casey)
>>>>>   2. The Overte Foundation for OpenSimulator (Justin Clark-Casey)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ------------------------------**------------------------------**
>>>>> ----------
>>>>>
>>>>> Message: 1
>>>>> Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:51:27 +0100
>>>>> From: Justin Clark-Casey<jjustincc@**googlemail.com<jjustincc at googlemail.com>
>>>>> >
>>>>> To: opensim-dev at lists.berlios.de
>>>>> Subject: Re: [Opensim-dev] Built libbullet shared object libraries for
>>>>>        Linux but this isn't what you wanted!
>>>>> Message-ID:<4E0BBA7F.7070206@**googlemail.com<4E0BBA7F.7070206 at googlemail.com>
>>>>> >
>>>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
>>>>>
>>>>> On 27/06/11 16:52, Adams, Robert wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Building Bullet itself is a start. Thanks Justin.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The makefile should be fairly straight forward as there are just the
>>>>>> two cpp files and one .h file with the only dependencies being on the std
>>>>>> library and Bullet itself. As you now know, Bullet used CMAKE for its
>>>>>> build/configuration tool and I don't know if there is a way to link a
>>>>>> BulletSim build into it (put the Bullet directory under BulletSim and do a
>>>>>> CMAKE which builds both together).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm setting up a Linux build environment so I should be able to help
>>>>>> anyone working on this by next weekend. I'm doing some stress testing this
>>>>>> week and then I will look into linksets again -- I want to get vehicles
>>>>>> working.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I put in a scratch Makefile and fixed one definition issue in
>>>>> BulletSim.cpp.  However, on make this still brings up the
>>>>> errors
>>>>>
>>>>> BulletSim.cpp:38:14: error: ?gDeactivationTime? was declared ?extern?
>>>>> and later ?static?
>>>>> BulletDynamics/Dynamics/**btRigidBody.h:29:17: error: previous
>>>>> declaration of ?gDeactivationTime?
>>>>> BulletSim.cpp: In member function ?int BulletSim::PhysicsStep(**btScalar,
>>>>> int, btScalar, int*, EntityProperties***, int*,
>>>>> unsigned int**)?:
>>>>> BulletSim.cpp:107:79: error: cast from ?void*? to ?unsigned int? loses
>>>>> precision
>>>>> BulletSim.cpp:108:79: error: cast from ?void*? to ?unsigned int? loses
>>>>> precision
>>>>> BulletSim.cpp: In member function ?btCollisionShape*
>>>>> BulletSim::CreateShape(**ShapeData*)?:
>>>>> BulletSim.cpp:405:61: error: no matching function for call to
>>>>> ?BulletSim::**AdjustScaleForCollisionMargin(**btCollisionShape*&,
>>>>> btVector3)?
>>>>> BulletSim.h:469:7: note: candidate is: void BulletSim::**
>>>>> AdjustScaleForCollisionMargin(**btCollisionShape*, btVector3&)
>>>>> BulletSim.cpp:426:62: error: no matching function for call to
>>>>> ?BulletSim::**AdjustScaleForCollisionMargin(**btCollisionShape*&,
>>>>> btVector3)?
>>>>> BulletSim.h:469:7: note: candidate is: void BulletSim::**
>>>>> AdjustScaleForCollisionMargin(**btCollisionShape*, btVector3&)
>>>>> BulletSim.cpp:432:61: error: no matching function for call to
>>>>> ?BulletSim::**AdjustScaleForCollisionMargin(**btCollisionShape*&,
>>>>> btVector3)?
>>>>> BulletSim.h:469:7: note: candidate is: void BulletSim::**
>>>>> AdjustScaleForCollisionMargin(**btCollisionShape*, btVector3&)
>>>>> BulletSim.cpp: In member function ?SweepHit BulletSim::ConvexSweepTest(
>>>>> **unsigned int, btVector3&, btVector3&, btScalar)?:
>>>>> BulletSim.cpp:1166:95: error: cast from ?void*? to ?unsigned int? loses
>>>>> precision
>>>>> BulletSim.cpp: In member function ?RaycastHit
>>>>> BulletSim::RayTest(unsigned int, btVector3&, btVector3&)?:
>>>>> BulletSim.cpp:1209:70: error: cast from ?void*? to ?unsigned int? loses
>>>>> precision
>>>>> make: *** [BulletSim.o] Error 1
>>>>>
>>>>> It's a long time since I did any significant c/cpp (and then it wasn't
>>>>> on Linux) so I'm not sure why this is happening.
>>>>>  Maybe it's gcc specific.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> I was able to pull opensim-libs anonymously last week (
>>>>>> http://opensimulator.org/svn/**opensim-libs<http://opensimulator.org/svn/opensim-libs>).
>>>>>> Has it broken since then?
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks Robert - I was trying the wrong url.  I put the information into
>>>>> the wiki.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> -- ra
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: opensim-dev-bounces at lists.**berlios.de<opensim-dev-bounces at lists.berlios.de>[mailto:
>>>>>> opensim-dev-bounces@**lists.berlios.de<opensim-dev-bounces at lists.berlios.de>]
>>>>>> On Behalf Of Justin Clark-Casey
>>>>>> Sent: Sunday, June 26, 2011 4:48 PM
>>>>>> To: opensim-dev at lists.berlios.de
>>>>>> Subject: [Opensim-dev] Built libbullet shared object libraries for
>>>>>> Linux but this isn't what you wanted!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi Robert.  I briefly putzed around with building shared object Bullet
>>>>>> 2.78 under Linux tonight and popped the results
>>>>>> in as commit 23bf773 on the bulletsim branch.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> However, I just realised that you weren't asking for the bullet
>>>>>> libraries to be built.  What you were really asking for
>>>>>> in http://lists.berlios.de/**pipermail/opensim-dev/2011-**
>>>>>> June/010271.html<http://lists.berlios.de/pipermail/opensim-dev/2011-June/010271.html>were Linux/OSX makefiles to build your
>>>>>> BulletSim.dll interfacing library in the opensim-libs svn repo (for
>>>>>> which anonymous access is unfortunately not
>>>>>> currently working - this need to be fixed).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> That doesn't look too difficult but it's a little more involved for me
>>>>>> since it's a long time since I wrote a Makefile.
>>>>>>   I don't know when I might get a slice of time to do that, so I think
>>>>>> help from anybody else would still be very much
>>>>>> appreciated.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Justin Clark-Casey (justincc)
>>>>> http://justincc.org/blog
>>>>> http://twitter.com/justincc
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ------------------------------
>>>>>
>>>>> Message: 2
>>>>> Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2011 02:21:51 +0100
>>>>> From: Justin Clark-Casey<jjustincc@**googlemail.com<jjustincc at googlemail.com>
>>>>> >
>>>>> To: Opensim-users at lists.berlios.de**, opensim-dev at lists.berlios.de
>>>>> Subject: [Opensim-dev] The Overte Foundation for OpenSimulator
>>>>> Message-ID:<4E0BCFAF.5030908@**googlemail.com<4E0BCFAF.5030908 at googlemail.com>
>>>>> >
>>>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>>>>>
>>>>> Dear all,
>>>>>
>>>>> As I'm sure everybody on these lists is aware, OpenSimulator currently
>>>>> has some restrictions on who can contribute code
>>>>> to the project (http://opensimulator.org/**wiki/Contributions_Policy<http://opensimulator.org/wiki/Contributions_Policy>
>>>>> ).
>>>>>
>>>>> The most controversial of these is the one that prevents contributions
>>>>> from people who have studied the Linden Lab
>>>>> viewer within the past 6 months.
>>>>>
>>>>> This policy came about because the early core developers wanted to be
>>>>> very cautious when dealing with a project that was
>>>>> intimately intertwined with OpenSimulator through a common virtual
>>>>> world protocol and concept, but which was licensed
>>>>> under the copyleft GPL license rather than OpenSimulator's BSD license.
>>>>>  It was also inspired by bad, though unrelated,
>>>>> early experiences of unwanted inclusion of GPL code within
>>>>> OpenSimulator.
>>>>>
>>>>> However, this rule increasingly restricts progress and innovation.  To
>>>>> state the obvious, it effectively stops Linden
>>>>> Lab viewer and third party viewer developers from contributing to
>>>>> OpenSimulator and it stops OpenSimulator developers
>>>>> from contributing code to those viewers.
>>>>>
>>>>> We do want to do something about this.  In very broad terms, there are
>>>>> two choices of action.  Either we simply drop the
>>>>> 6 month restriction or we establish a Contributor's License Agreement
>>>>> (CLA) to explicitly clarify that a developer has
>>>>> the necessary rights to contribute the code that they're giving.
>>>>>
>>>>> Simply dropping the restriction is tempting.  However, the conditions
>>>>> under which it was established have not changed -
>>>>> the core of the Linden Lab viewer and derivatives is still under the
>>>>> copyleft LGPL license.  Some people think that in
>>>>> general such restrictions are entirely unnecessary but others think
>>>>> that it's a reasonable precaution in the absence of
>>>>> a CLA.
>>>>>
>>>>> So the other alternative is to have that CLA.  This is the route that
>>>>> we've started going down.  The proposal is to have
>>>>> a CLA by which a contributor explicitly grants a copyright license over
>>>>> their contributions.  Each contributor will
>>>>> continue to own their own code (i.e. there is no transfer of
>>>>> copyright).
>>>>>
>>>>> Again, there is considerable debate over CLAs, with some people seeing
>>>>> them as essential and others thinking that they
>>>>> are entirely unnecessary.  However, many open-source projects have CLAs
>>>>> (Apache, Django, Python, the Linden Lab viewer)
>>>>> so we would not be in bad company.  Having to submit a CLA might also
>>>>> reduce casual 'drive-by' patches, though we would
>>>>> make CLA submitting as easy as possible - by accepting them
>>>>> electronically, for instance.
>>>>>
>>>>> In order to grant a copyright license there needs to be a receiving
>>>>> entity.  To this end, we are in the process of
>>>>> setting up an organisation known as the Overte Foundation.  The Overte
>>>>> Foundation will receive the copyright licenses
>>>>> and become the official distributor of OpenSimulator rather than
>>>>> individual core developers.  This will put it in a good
>>>>> position to deal with code origin or other issues, if any should ever
>>>>> arise.
>>>>>
>>>>> Once the CLA is complete, the current contribution restrictions to
>>>>> OpenSimulator will be removed.  It will be down to
>>>>> each developer (including core developers) to affirm via the CLA that
>>>>> they have the necessary rights over the code that
>>>>> they are contributing.
>>>>>
>>>>> One advantage of going down the foundation route is that it will also
>>>>> be able to promote and support OpenSimulator in
>>>>> other ways, quite possibly incorporating members of the community other
>>>>> than just developers.  The foundation could also
>>>>> extend to cover other open-source virtual-environment/virtual-**world
>>>>> projects and components.  In the short term, though,
>>>>> we will be concentrating on establishing the CLA.
>>>>>
>>>>> At some point soon we would be very grateful for donations to the
>>>>> Overte Foundation in order to deal with some of the
>>>>> costs involved in setting things up and for ongoing support and
>>>>> promotion of OpenSimulator.  Setup costs should not be
>>>>> too high since Ben Esplin of Pillsbury Law is very kindly donating time
>>>>> and expertise (he also helped OSgrid establish
>>>>> their organisation).
>>>>>
>>>>> We're actually still in the process of setting up the foundation so
>>>>> we'll only be requesting donations once we have a
>>>>> bank account for them.  However, we wanted to get this out in the open
>>>>> now so that people know what is being proposed
>>>>> and so that we can get feedback.
>>>>>
>>>>> For a much shorter public statement and FAQ about these topics shorn of
>>>>> the historical context, please see
>>>>>
>>>>> http://opensimulator.org/wiki/**Foundation<http://opensimulator.org/wiki/Foundation>
>>>>> http://opensimulator.org/wiki/**Foundation_FAQ<http://opensimulator.org/wiki/Foundation_FAQ>
>>>>>
>>>>> I will be acting as the first Overte Foundation president, with Diva as
>>>>> treasurer, Melanie as secretary and Nebadon and
>>>>> Ben as initial board members.  The foundation itself will not directly
>>>>> control OpenSimulator development - this will
>>>>> remain with the OpenSimulator team and community as it does now.
>>>>>
>>>>> Discussion about this is very welcome, whether supporting or critical.
>>>>>  I'm logging off now so will likely answer any
>>>>> points tomorrow.  Of course, other core developers are very welcome to
>>>>> chip in.
>>>>>
>>>>> Best,
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Justin Clark-Casey (justincc)
>>>>> http://justincc.org/blog
>>>>> http://twitter.com/justincc
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ------------------------------
>>>>>
>>>>> ______________________________**_________________
>>>>> Opensim-dev mailing list
>>>>> Opensim-dev at lists.berlios.de
>>>>> https://lists.berlios.de/**mailman/listinfo/opensim-dev<https://lists.berlios.de/mailman/listinfo/opensim-dev>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> End of Opensim-dev Digest, Vol 46, Issue 19
>>>>> *********************************************
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ______________________________**_________________
>>>> Opensim-dev mailing list
>>>> Opensim-dev at lists.berlios.de
>>>> https://lists.berlios.de/**mailman/listinfo/opensim-dev<https://lists.berlios.de/mailman/listinfo/opensim-dev>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Justin Clark-Casey (justincc)
>>> http://justincc.org/blog
>>> http://twitter.com/justincc
>>> ______________________________**_________________
>>> Opensim-dev mailing list
>>> Opensim-dev at lists.berlios.de
>>> https://lists.berlios.de/**mailman/listinfo/opensim-dev<https://lists.berlios.de/mailman/listinfo/opensim-dev>
>>>
>>
>>
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