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<p>Hola,<br>
</p>
<p>A estas alturas todos os habréis enterado de que se está
estudiando la posibilidad de mover la Fundación OSM fuera del
Reino Unido debido a que este país está fuera de la Unión Europea
y esto lleva a problemas diversos de continuidad del proyecto tal
y como lo conocíamos.</p>
<p>Por si acaso reboto este correo original, enlazado aquí:</p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://lists.openstreetmap.org/pipermail/osmf-talk/2021-June/007860.html">https://lists.openstreetmap.org/pipermail/osmf-talk/2021-June/007860.html</a></p>
<p>Y también os pego esta noticia que salí hace una semana en The
Guardian:</p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jun/30/openstreetmap-looks-to-relocate-to-eu-due-to-brexit-limitations">https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jun/30/openstreetmap-looks-to-relocate-to-eu-due-to-brexit-limitations</a></p>
<p>Saludos</p>
<p>Miguel<br>
</p>
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<th valign="BASELINE" nowrap="nowrap" align="RIGHT">Subject:
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<td>[Osmf-talk] Moving the OSMF to the EU?</td>
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<th valign="BASELINE" nowrap="nowrap" align="RIGHT">Date: </th>
<td>Sat, 19 Jun 2021 19:10:01 +0200</td>
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<th valign="BASELINE" nowrap="nowrap" align="RIGHT">From: </th>
<td>Guillaume Rischard
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:guillaume.rischard@osmfoundation.org"><guillaume.rischard@osmfoundation.org></a></td>
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<th valign="BASELINE" nowrap="nowrap" align="RIGHT">To: </th>
<td>OSMF Talk <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:osmf-talk@openstreetmap.org"><osmf-talk@openstreetmap.org></a></td>
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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="" moz-do-not-send="true">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>
</div>
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