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The License Working Group is undermanned and has only met twice this
year, most recently on 28th October. [1]<br>
<br>
This is due in great part to my lack of time, enthusiasm and
attention in calling meetings. I am therefore stepping down as
below and welcome volunteers to join as full members and indeed,
subject to the agreement of other LWG members and board endorsement,
take over the chair role.<br>
<br>
I would also like to highlight that we also now welcome associate
members who can help us occassionally or want to work on a specific
topic that fires you up. This involves no specific formalities nor
duties. It has been brought to my attention that this might
therefore suit legal practioners who would otherwise have a conflict
of interest. We would certainly welcome involvement from real
lawyers!<br>
<br>
Lastly, Satoshi Iida, an extremely active member of the OSM Japan
community has asked to participate in LWG and I welcome him
enthusiastically. It is important to broaden our scope beyond
Western Europe/US thinking.<br>
<br>
Mike<br>
<br>
<br>
[1] <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.osmfoundation.org/wiki/Working_Group_Minutes">http://www.osmfoundation.org/wiki/Working_Group_Minutes</a><br>
<br>
=========== Slightly edited copy of email sent to LWG ==============<br>
<br>
Dear LWG, and CC Board for their information,<br>
<br>
I feel that I do not, and will be unable to give, LWG the time and
attention it needs. I have also been in the position for at least 6
years and it is time for a new and more enthusiastic face. I am
therefore formally resigning as Chair and invite the LWG to consider
a replacement. I would prefer that this was not a member of the
current board, and therein lies a problem. I am asking Simon now
his current status, but apart from him, all other current members
are also board members. I have also one piece of good news in that
Satoshi Iida, an extremely active member of the OSM Japan community
has asked to participate and I welcome him enthusiastically. <br>
<br>
I regret adding even more to the current board's starting load, but
think it best to just face facts. I am therefore happy to stay in a
caretaker role until that person is in place, but emphasise that
this will be less than ideal.<br>
<br>
The issues that LWG should ideally be dealing with are:<br>
<ul>
<li>Assisting end-users by developing clarificatory community
guidelines for providing OSM-based data services (rather than
maps) in a mixed data environment.</li>
<li>License compatibility with CC 4 and the general issue of
license harmonisation.</li>
<li>Diligently answering now frequent license enquiries.<br>
</li>
</ul>
<br>
Mike<br>
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