<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr">As I’ve written below, Ireland is unfortunately disqualified because it needs directors to be residents.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Guillaume</div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On 19 Jun 2021, at 19:58, Juan Jose Iglesias <jjiglesiasg@gmail.com> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Move to Ireland, still in the EU and English-Language legal system<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_MailEndCompose"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></a></p><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> Guillaume Rischard [mailto:guillaume.rischard@osmfoundation.org] <br><b>Sent:</b> Saturday, June 19, 2021 1:10 PM<br><b>To:</b> OSMF Talk <osmf-talk@openstreetmap.org><br><b>Subject:</b> [Osmf-talk] Moving the OSMF to the EU?<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Hi all,<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">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.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">There is not one reason for moving, but a multitude of paper cuts, most of which have been triggered or amplified by Brexit:<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal">• One important reason is keeping <i>sui generis</i> database rights (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sui-generis-database-rights-after-the-">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.<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class="MsoNormal">• Banking, finance and using PayPal in the UK is becoming more and more complicated and expensive.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">• 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.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">• We would be allowed to keep our .EU domains ourselves<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">• We could more effectively lobby the EU, EU governments and have more of an impact, especially in countries where there is no local chapter.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">• Managing membership could become easier<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">• We could more easily employ people in the EU<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">The negative side is that it would mean a <i>lot</i> of work, and cost time and money.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Some points to consider when moving:<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"><span style="color:black"> </span></span>• Asset transfer, especially intellectual property<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"><span style="color:black"> </span></span>• Will this have an effect on the contributor agreement? <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"><span style="color:black"> </span></span><span style="color:black">• </span>Porting the AoA to another legal system – adding maybe asset locks and takeover protection mechanisms.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"><span style="color:black"> </span></span><span style="color:black">• </span>Change membership? Does every member need to agree?<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"><span style="color:black"> </span></span><span style="color:black">• </span>Would donations be tax-free EU wide?<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"><span style="color:black"> </span></span><span style="color:black">• </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.<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">We are not focusing on a certain country yet, but have instead made a list of criteria:<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Requirements (Must)<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>• Retention of current license and contributor terms<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>• Legal successor to OSMF corporation if/when the OSMF is dissolved<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>• Formal non-profit status so we don’t pay income tax<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>• No requirement for any director to be resident in country of incorporation (this excludes Ireland)<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>• Relevant laws permit bank accounts to be held by resident non-profits with non-resident members and directors<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>• Communication in English with banks and local authorities is possible (this probably excludes France)<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>• Democratic control. One-person-one-vote<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>• Ability to have “members”/directors from all (nearly all?) countries<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>• EU sui generis database protection<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Highly desirable (Should)<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>• Tax-deductible donations<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>• Low cost of transferring assets from the UK<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>• Minimal overhead and reporting requirements<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>• Legal structure easy to understand for community members, donors, and the public<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>• Ability to employ people<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>• AoA can be written in English<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>• Accounting can be done in English<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>• Banking available in EUR, GBP and USD<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>• Banking available fully in English<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>• Low non-profit maintenance costs<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>• Ability to take donations from 501c3 charities in the US<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Desirable (Could)<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>• English-language legal system<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>• Low incorporation cost<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-tab-span"> </span>• Corporate address can be maildrop for forwarding<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">What do you think? Is there anything we’ve missed? Have we missed easier ways of solving some of our issues?<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Thanks,<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Guillaume (treasurer) and the rest of the OSMF board<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div id="DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2"><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="1" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="0" style="border:none;border-top:solid #D3D4DE 1.0pt"><tbody><tr><td width="58" style="width:41.25pt;border:none;padding:9.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="46" height="29" id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://ipmcdn.avast.com/images/icons/icon-envelope-tick-green-avg-v1.png" data-unique-identifier=""></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width="473" style="width:352.5pt;border:none;padding:9.0pt .75pt .75pt .75pt"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:13.5pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#41424E">Virus-free. <a href="http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient" target="_blank"><span style="color:#4453EA">www.avg.com</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></div></blockquote></body></html>