[OSM-legal-talk] License Working Group news

[Michael Collinson]

The License Working Group is undermanned and has only met twice this 
year, most recently on 28th October. [1]

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.

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!

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.

Mike


[1] http://www.osmfoundation.org/wiki/Working_Group_Minutes

=========== Slightly edited copy of email sent to LWG ==============

Dear LWG,  and CC Board for their information,

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.

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.

The issues that LWG should ideally be dealing with are:

  * Assisting end-users by developing clarificatory community guidelines
    for providing OSM-based data services (rather than maps) in a mixed
    data environment.
  * License compatibility with CC 4 and the general issue of license
    harmonisation.
  * Diligently answering now frequent license enquiries.


Mike
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