<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class="">Hi all,<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">The OSMF board is considering relocating the OSMF to the EU. We haven’t taken our decision yet, and would like to first consult its membership for feedback, advice and whether we’ve missed anything.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">There is not one reason for moving, but a multitude of paper cuts, most of which have been triggered or amplified by Brexit:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class="">• One important reason is keeping <i class="">sui generis</i> database rights (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sui-generis-database-rights-after-the-" class="">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sui-generis-database-rights-after-the-</a>transition-period) in the EU. We still have other protections, but this is a solid one and has been useful in the past.<br class=""></div>• Banking, finance and using PayPal in the UK is becoming more and more complicated and expensive.</div><div class="">• We might be able to get charity status, and make our donations tax-deductible. We paid about £6000 in tax in the last fiscal year, but this will increase geometrically as we raise money for iD and the senior reliability engineer job.</div><div class="">• We would be allowed to keep our .EU domains ourselves</div><div class="">• We could more effectively lobby the EU, EU governments and have more of an impact, especially in countries where there is no local chapter.</div><div class="">• Managing membership could become easier</div><div class="">• We could more easily employ people in the EU</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">The negative side is that it would mean a <i class="">lot</i> of work, and cost time and money.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Some points to consider when moving:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: pre;"> </span>• Asset transfer, especially intellectual property</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: pre;"> </span>• Will this have an effect on the contributor agreement? </div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="">• </span>Porting the AoA to another legal system – adding maybe asset locks and takeover protection mechanisms.</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="">• </span>Change membership? Does every member need to agree?</div><div class=""><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="">• </span>Would donations be tax-free EU wide?</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="">• </span> Move the whole foundation? A hybrid approach – keeping the “main” OSMF in the UK and having a sister OSMF in the EU – might reduce the effort or even work better.</div></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">We are not focusing on a certain country yet, but have instead made a list of criteria:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Requirements (Must)<br class=""><br class=""><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• Retention of current license and contributor terms<br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• Legal successor to OSMF corporation if/when the OSMF is dissolved<br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• Formal non-profit status so we don’t pay income tax<br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• No requirement for any director to be resident in country of incorporation (this excludes Ireland)<br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• Relevant laws permit bank accounts to be held by resident non-profits with non-resident members and directors<br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• Communication in English with banks and local authorities is possible (this probably excludes France)</div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• Democratic control. One-person-one-vote<br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• Ability to have “members”/directors from all (nearly all?) countries<br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• EU sui generis database protection<br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div>Highly desirable (Should)<br class=""><br class=""><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• Tax-deductible donations<br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• Low cost of transferring assets from the UK<br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• Minimal overhead and reporting requirements<br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• Legal structure easy to understand for community members, donors, and the public<br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• Ability to employ people<br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• AoA can be written in English<br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• Accounting can be done in English<br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• Banking available in EUR, GBP and USD<br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• Banking available fully in English<br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• Low non-profit maintenance costs<br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• Ability to take donations from 501c3 charities in the US</div><div class=""><br class=""></div>Desirable (Could)<br class=""><br class=""><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• English-language legal system<br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• Low incorporation cost<br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• Corporate address can be maildrop for forwarding</div></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">What do you think? Is there anything we’ve missed? Have we missed easier ways of solving some of our issues?</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Thanks,</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Guillaume (treasurer) and the rest of the OSMF board</div><div class=""><br class=""></div></body></html>