[Discussioni]GNU Business Network Definition

[l-i-b-e-r-o a libero.it]

Esistono versioni più recenti di questa? Nel qual caso, dove sono reperibili?
In caso contrario, vogliamo incominciare a discutere di questa?

GNU Business Network Definition
GNU Business Network Definition - Version 0.9.10 - by Georg C. F. Greve 


1.) Preamble

The goal of the GNU Project is to further Free Software where Free
stands for freedom and not price. As the notion of commercial Free
Software spreads it becomes clear that there are very different ways
to make money based on Free Software. Some of these ways are more
compatible with our community and our values than others.

The GNU Business Network seeks to further business based on and
compatible with the philosophy and ideals of the GNU Project. To
achieve this, the GNU Business Network maintains a global network of
organisations, companies, subdivisions and projects that do GNU
business. Membership in this network does not require paying fees of
any kind. Instead the GNU Business Network judges activities for
membership based on what kind of work they do.

Depending on the amount of GNU compatibility, there are different ways
to participate. The "GNU Business Network Member" status is only
available to companies based solely on activities in and around Free
Software. Companies that do not qualify can still receive certificates
for specific subdivisions and/or projects that are compatible with the
spirit of Free Software.



2.) Criteria

In order to determine the compatibility of potential members with the
GNU spirit, this section is split into different fields of activities.

Each of these fields has an optimal GNU way of committing business;
this is given first.

The second part are activities that we perceive as being either
positive, because they go beyond the normal commitment, or negative
but tolerable.

The final part is a description of what is to be considered
incompatible with the GNU philosophy. Doing any of these "excluded"
activities is a disqualification for membership in the GNU Business
Network.

Thus, a company qualifies to be a member of the GNU Business Network
if the company does none of the excluded activities.  A subdivision or
project qualifies for a certification if that subdivision or project
does none of the excluded activities (even though other parts of the
company may fail to qualify).

Disclaimer I: As the evaluation of criteria is largely based on
information supplied by the applicants themselves and it is sometimes
very hard or impossible to verify, giving false information is not
taken lightly. If some participant is found to have supplied false
information, all services and permissions granted are withdrawn
immediately. Furthermore it is banned from reevaluation and possible
certification for 12 months, the ban for membership is 24 months. Also
the GNU Business Network may chose to keep a list of all banned
entities should it deem this neccessary.

Disclaimer II: Compatibility of a company with the GNU spirit is
determined by the Criteria specified here. It is possible that these
criteria will require modification to adapt them to changing
circumstances. The GNU Business Network Organisation retains the right
to perform these modifications whenever necessary in order to preserve
the GNU spirit.

If because of a change in the criteria a company, subdivision or
project which did qualify under the old criteria ceases to qualify,
the GNU Business Network Organisation will inform it of this, and then
it will have a six-month grace period within which it must either
change its policies and qualify under the new criteria, or stop citing
its membership or certification.


Area "Software Development"

All software being developed is released under a Free Software license
accepted by the GNU Project (see http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html=
).

(-) Development of software under a proprietary license with the
guarantee that it will get rereleased under a proper Free Software
license no more than a year later.

Exclusion: Development of proprietary software without the guarantee
of freedom within a year.


Area "Distribution of software"

Distribution of Free Software exclusively.

(-) Distribution of Free Software along with proprietary software for
areas where no Free Software solution exists.

(-) Distributing proprietary software gratis.

(-) Including, in a Free Software-based distribution (like GNU/HURD or
GNU/Linux) , some proprietary programs that can be freely
redistributed in binary form.

Exclusion: Any other distribution of proprietary software.


Area "Service, Installation & Support"

Service, installation and support exclusively for Free Software.

(-) Occasionally provides services for specific proprietary programs
that do obscure jobs, in conjunction with Free Software.

(--) Normally provides services for specific proprietary programs that
do obscure jobs, in conjunction with Free Software.

Exclusion: Any other support for proprietary programs.


Area "Hardware"

The protocol specifications are being made public to allow the
development of proper Free Software drivers. Developers working on the
drivers are being encouraged by the company.

(+) The company develops free drivers itself.

(-) Protocol specifications are given to specific developers in order
to develop a Free Software driver under a nondisclosure agreement.

Exclusion: Refusal to cooperate with development of free drivers.


Area "Consulting, Webpages & other public information"

Free Software is visible and always the recommended choice.

(+) People are being informed about freedom and its benefits right
From=20the start.

(-) The company does in fact always prefer Free Software, but does not
make any public statement to explicitly acknowledge this.

Exclusion: Proprietary software is the preferred choice in some
cases.=20


Area "Documentation & Books"

Everything is released under a free documentation license. (see
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/license-list.html)=20

(-) Distribution of free and proprietary books. Authors have the
option to release their books under a free license and are encouraged
to do so.

Exclusion: Does not encourage authors to use a free license.


Area "Software Patents"

Uses software patents only for self-defense and mutual defense.

(+) Does not own software patents.

(+) Works politically against software patents in general.

(+) Seeks opportunities to contribute its patents to a system of
mutual defense against other patents.

(-) Uses software patents for aggression against non-free software,
but always offers royalty-free licenses for free software.

Exclusion: Owns software patents and uses them to block development of
Free Software.



3.) Certification Terms

Certification by the GNU Business Network is free of charge and solely
based on application of the GNU Business Network Criteria.

3.1 Granting of Certifications

Any subdivision or project can be certified by the GNU Business
Network by application of the GNU Business Network criteria.

3.2 Reevaluation of Certification

A certification can be withdrawn by the GNU Business Network or any of
its members when the subject of the certification ceases to fulfill
the criteria as defined in section 2. In this case all services and
permissions granted as defined in section 5 will be withdrawn.

Reevaluation can take place at any time.

3.3 Obligations

The GNU Business Network does not want to promote proprietary
software. Therefore companies with certified projects or subdivisions
that do support proprietary software must not spontaneously offer
those services when being approached via the GNU Business Network.


4.) Membership Terms

Membership in the GNU Business Network comes at no charge and is
solely based on compatibility of a company's activities with the GNU
Business Network Criteria.

4.1 Granting of Membership

Membership in the GNU Business Network is granted upon evaluation of
the criteria by the GNU Business Network organisation specified in
section 6.=20

4.2 Reevaluation of Membership

Activites of any member can be reevaluated by request of the member
itself, possibly affecting the membership. They may also be reviewed
whenever chosen by the GNU Business Network - especially after new
facts arise.

4.3 Obligations

The GNU Business Network does not want to promote proprietary
software. Therefore members that do support proprietary software must
not spontaneously offer those services when being approached over the
GNU Business Network.

4.5 Further Rights

Members of the GNU Business Network are granted no other rights than
those specified in this document.



5.) Services

The GNU Business Network provides the following services for its
participants.

5.1 List

The GNU Business Network maintains a webpage containing a list of all
members and certified subdivisions/projects.

This list serves several purposes. First of all it allows everyone to
make informed decisions as a customer. By preferring products related
to members of the GNU Business Network one can indirectly support and
strengthen Free Software as well as the rights and philosophy
associated with it.

It also provides a possibility for companies to find partners for
worldwide business cooperation in areas like development, support and
distribution.

Finally the list should encourage companies to engage in Free Software
and member should feel motivated to modify their business policy in
order to become full members of the GNU Business Network.

All webpages linked to from the GNU Business Network have to be at
least one hop away from proprietary software or other non-free
activities.

a.) Members of the GNU Business Network

All members of the GNU Business Network will be listed on the GNU
Business Network webpage. There will only be one entry per member,
containing the company name, a general description of its services,
the criteria applied, the company logo and a link to its webpage.

b.) Certified Subdivisions and Projects

All subdivisions and projects certified by the GNU Business Network
will be listed on the GNU Business Network webpage. For simplicity,
all subdivisions and projects belonging to the same company will be
listed together. An entry always contains the name of the subdivision
or project, a brief description, the criteria used for evaluation and
if applicable includes a logo and a link to a related webpage.


5.2 Corporate Branding

a.) Members of the GNU Business Network

Members are granted the permission to call themselves "Member of the
GNU Business Network" and to use a graphic branding provided by the
GNU Business Network displaying the same.=20

b.) Certified Subdivisions and Projects

Subdivisions and Projects certified by the GNU Business Network are
granted permission to use a branding saying " - GNU Business
Network Certified Subdivision/Project."=20

5.2.1 Use of Branding

The brandings supplied by the GNU Business Network may be used on all
web pages and all corporate publications not related to non-free
activities.


5.3 Documents & Discussion forums

The GNU Business Network seeks to provide a platform for Free Software
business models, a central information hub and a basis for commercial
cooperation worldwide.

This is done in the form of documents (interactive and otherwise) and
mailinglists.


5.4 Conferences, Seminars & Talks

Other possible services like conferences, seminars, talks and the like
are to be determined at a later point and will be subject to demand.



6.) Organisation

All companies can apply themselves or be suggested by someone else for
the GNU Business Network. Application is performed on the webpage or
via email to . Applications must include some
information about the companies activities as well as information on
how to contact them.