PSF Meeting Minutes for Nov. 9, 2004
The Python Software Foundation
Minutes of Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors
November 9, 2004
A regular meeting of the Python Software Foundation (the "PSF") Board of Directors was held over Internet Relay Chat at 18:00 GMT. Stephan Deibel presided at the meeting.
1. Attendance
The following members of the Board of Directors were present at the meeting: Jeremy Hylton, Stephan Deibel, David Ascher, Tim Peters, Martin v. Löwis. Steve Holden joined later. Neal Norwitz was also present. Martin was taking minutes.
2. Meeting minutes of past IRC meetings
The October minutes where approved with 4/0/1.
3.Usage of Python License
Stephan reported that 118 projects on SourceForge use the Python license, which might be legally confusing. He volunteered to write an FAQ about using the Python license in other projects, and suggested to contact the more prominent projects directly.4. Contrib forms
Martin reported about the discussions with Larry Rosen about the contributor forms. The open issue was the list of initial licenses, for which the patent licensing was of primary concern. If we would require a patent grant from the contributors, a number of common licenses would be ruled out. Tim proposed that we only offer contributors such licenses, and wait for somebody to complain. Stephan was in favor of requiring a patent license for patents the contributor holds, but opposed to requiring contributors to claim that there are no patents on their contribution. Martin explained that, as a result of that, only the Apache License, and the Academic Free License are real candidates for an initial license. He suggested that contributors might be surprised that they cannot contribute under the Python License, and proposed that this should be explained to contributors.Martin will circulate a draft motion to adopt the forms to the PSF members
5. Grants Committee
Martin reported that Jeremy located 3 more proposals that had mistakenly been ignored, they were now also being reviewed. One issue that the committee needed board help with is the proposal by Tim Parkins, to design a Python promotion website. Jeremy suggested that this should be dealt with in the public relations committee, and that we should avoid giving the impression of insider funding.Stephan asked how board members would like to proceed with this question. Martin commented he would like to see the project executed either way: through the grants process, or explicit board decision. Jeremy said he would like to see the PRC propose the project. Tim Peters commented that Tim Parkins should not be considered an insider. Also, if the grants committee funded it, it should also control it.
Steve Holden joined the discussion. He reported that he proposed Tim Parkins to submit the grants proposal, and did not really consider the PRC to directly apply for funding for this activity. Tim Peters said that if the work is really about redesigning pydotorg, it should be a PRC project. Steve will talk to Tim Parkins about the issue, and propose a motion to run this within the PRC (or a new committee replacing the PRC).