Evil SourceForge?

[Kevin Brown]

I'm confused.  Does this only affect the software that is running Sourceforge,
or does it also include the software that is hosted on sourceforge?

> > I would much rather have SF do what it can to bring in new customers and stay
> > afloat than have it fold in because it can't sell what it gives away for
> > free.
> 
> If it was _their_ property, yes, I'd agree. But in this case, they're asking
> the developers that worked on the previously open-source SF software to hand
> over all IP rights, as well as the rights to any futher software that they
> develop that could possibly make for a good addition to SF. Additionally, if
> you read the article you'll notice that the developer that recieved the
> request to hand over his IP rights was asked to help refine the document he
> was supposed to sign. Again, according to the document, his requests were
> blatantly ignored and a worse document was mailed out to him for signing --
> this one requiring that he sign all documents placed in his face by VA Linux.
> 
> Quoting the article directly:
> "... when I read the details of their copyright assignment, I saw major
> problems.  I was asked to assign copyright of my work that 'is, or may in
> the future be, utilized in the SourceForge collaborative software
> development platform'. The assignment was not limited to my contribution to
> the SourceForge code, it potentially covered all my past and future work if
> it was of some interest to SourceForge."
> 
> "I was also expecting a promise that my work would be released under the GNU
> GPL, but the assignment said nothing about Free Software. VA Linux would be
> allowed to release the software I wrote under a non-free software license
> and not let the community have it at all."
> 
> and finally, a copy of the Copyright Assignment letter quoted in the article:
> 
> "SourceForge Copyright Assignment
> 
> Thank you for your interest in contributing software code to SourceForge.
> 
> In order for us to include the code in our product, we will need you to
> provide us with the rights to the code.
> 
> By signing this agreement, you, the undersigned, hereby assign to VA Linux
> all right, title and interest in and to the software code described below,
> and all copyright, patent, proprietary information, trade secret, and other
> intellectual property rights therein. You also agree to take all actions and
> sign all documents (such as copyright assignments or registrations)
> reasonably requested by VA Linux to evidence and record the above
> assignments."
> 
> I don't know about you, but when a company -- even one like VA Linux, whom
> have supported the open-source community so heartily -- decides to make a
> power grab for software IP rights in such a broad context and then
> blatantly ignores the same community that they were gaining help from, they
> become equal to or worse than M$ in my eyes. In all honesty, this is
> something I'd expect from M$, not VA Linux.