From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Jambunathan K Subject: I have terminated my assignment Date: Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:12:36 +0530 Message-ID: <87ppydmigz.fsf@gmail.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain Return-path: Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([208.118.235.92]:52765) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1UMwnp-00063E-Tw for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Tue, 02 Apr 2013 04:42:52 -0400 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1UMwnm-0004Yt-Su for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Tue, 02 Apr 2013 04:42:49 -0400 Received: from mail-pd0-f177.google.com ([209.85.192.177]:43598) by eggs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from ) id 1UMwnm-0004Yg-MY for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Tue, 02 Apr 2013 04:42:46 -0400 Received: by mail-pd0-f177.google.com with SMTP id u11so119736pdi.36 for ; Tue, 02 Apr 2013 01:42:46 -0700 (PDT) List-Id: "General discussions about Org-mode." List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Errors-To: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Sender: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org To: emacs-orgmode@gnu.org I have terminated my copyright assignment to Emacs (or atleast notified the copyright desk). For the sake of record, I haven't authorized Bastien to move the ox-html.el and ox-odt.el out of the ./contrib/lisp directory in to the main ./lisp/ directory. He didn't seek my permissions to move the file away from contrib/lisp in to lisp/. I cannot agree with Orgmode project's contention that I have given consent for above work to be included in Emacs proper. If FSF ever consults me on rights to my contributions to the above files, my position will ambiguously be "Changes made by me to files ox-html.el, ox-odt.el and ox-freemind.el are my own and I assert my rights over the changes. Specifically, I will not acknowledge FSF as having the rights to the said changes." Bastien has lost my trust very long back. More so when he resorted to erasing attribution to my work. ---------------------------------------------------------------- My changes to ox-html.el and ox-odt.el is not worth the keyboard it is typed on. My changes are useful. Handing over of rights, liberal license grant backs from FSF and enforcement of copyright etc. are too big a thing to even think about for my humble contributions. The size of my contributions are simply not worth so much bureaucratic trouble. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Meanwhile, interesting observers can observe how FSF responds. Either they can act consistent with project policy (and reject my work) or appropriate my work (through changing the rules of the game and interpreting the terms of contract) to suit their agenda. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Advice for potential contributors: ---------------------------------- Think before signing a Future Assignment. Why write a blank cheque and have RMS run behind you with "this is a diff to Emacs and all your code is mine." Assign work on a case-by-case basis. Insist that you cannot apriori sign off rights to future works (Future work and circumstances cannot be predicted. Be circumspect). If more people refuse to assign future rights, FSF will be forced to review their stance. Ask for information on how you can withhold assignments for some selected work. Ask them for cancellation form or a "withholding" form. Ask them at what point in time your work is *actually part* of Emacs. Carefully consider the arguments that FSF advances and also the arguments advanced by detractors. Don't be swayed by propaganda. If you are not sure, just don't sign the copyright and wait till you have ascertained the nature of your work in it's near final form. Jambunathan K.