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Last modified by Robert Schaub on 2025/12/24 20:30
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edited by Robert Schaub
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edited by Robert Schaub
on 2025/11/26 07:18
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1 -FactHarbor Open Source, Governance & Financing Model (from Gemini)
1 +Open Source & Governance (from Gemini)
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1 += FactHarbor Open Source, Governance & Financing Model =
2 +
3 +== Version 0.1 (Draft) ==
4 +
5 +== 0. Overview ==
6 +
7 +FactHarbor is a long-term public knowledge infrastructure.
8 +
9 +Its governance model must ensure:
10 +
11 +* Integrity against manipulation
12 +* Transparency of reasoning and code
13 +* Longevity beyond any single founder
14 +* Sustainability via realistic financing
15 +* Openness without compromising trust
16 +* Legal compliance under Swiss, EU, and US frameworks
17 +
18 +This document defines the Open Source Model, Governance Model, and Financing Model across two phases:
19 +
20 +* Startup Phase — Founder-led, lightweight, flexible
21 +* Non-Profit Organisation (Swiss Verein) Phase — Stable, community-governed, mission-locked
22 +
23 +The transition is triggered by maturity and community growth, not a predetermined date.
24 +
25 +== 1. Licensing Model ==
26 +
27 +=== 1.1 Open Source License — AGPLv3 ===
28 +
29 +The GNU Affero General Public License v3 (AGPLv3) is selected because it:
30 +
31 +* Ensures full transparency of all server-side modifications
32 +* Forces any fork or remote service to publish source code
33 +* Protects against hidden logic changes (critical for truth-based systems)
34 +* Allows commercial activity if and only if source modifications remain open
35 +AGPLv3 is the strongest available license aligned with FactHarbor’s mission of trust, transparency, and manipulation resistance.
36 +
37 +=== 1.2 Branding, Attribution & Name Protection ===
38 +
39 +* Trademark: FactHarbor name, logo, and brand elements are protected via trademark (held by Founder initially, then transferred to Verein).
40 +* Purpose: Prevent malicious forks impersonating FactHarbor.'
41 +* Attribution Guidelines (Non-Binding): FactHarbor requests (but does not require) that public-facing deployments display: “Powered by FactHarbor.” This is a guideline, fully compatible with AGPLv3.
42 +
43 +== 2. Copyright, CLA & Intellectual Property ==
44 +
45 +=== 2.1 Copyright Ownership ===
46 +
47 +* Startup Phase: Founder holds copyright to all FactHarbor code, AI templates, documentation, and assets. Third-party contributors retain copyright to their individual contributions.
48 +* Non-Profit Phase: All relevant assets transfer to the Verein (see Section 3.2.3).
49 +
50 +=== 2.2 Contributor License Agreement (CLA) ===
51 +
52 +All contributors must sign a CLA before contributions can be merged. The CLA states:
53 +Contributors retain their original copyright, but they grant the FactHarbor Organization (Founder → later Swiss Verein):
54 +
55 +* A ''perpetual, worldwide, irrevocable, royalty-free license'' to use, modify, sublicense, and redistribute their contributions under AGPLv3.
56 +* The ''explicit right to enforce AGPLv3'', including filing legal action against infringers, and defending license terms, acting on the contributor’s behalf where necessary.
57 +
58 +=== 2.3 Core Components and Enforcement ===
59 +
60 +The organisation may optionally request a Copyright Assignment Agreement (CAA) for critical subsystems (e.g., the AKEL engine), but this is not required at this stage.
61 +
62 +== 3. Governance Model ==
63 +
64 +FactHarbor uses ''Stewardship Governance'' — where strategic control remains with a trusted core group to prevent hijacking and ensure mission alignment.
65 +
66 +=== 3.1 Startup Phase Governance ===
67 +
68 +* Founder Leadership: Founder acts as Sole Maintainer, approves all merges, manages releases, and has final authority over technical and strategic decisions. The founder has legal responsibility.
69 +* Core Team (Future Addition): The Founder may appoint trusted individuals. Security-sensitive changes require multi-party approval.
70 +* Founder Succession Plan: Before transitioning, the Founder will define a succession mechanism in the Governance Charter (e.g., Founder-appointed successor, Steering Council ratification).
71 +
72 +=== 3.2 Non-Profit Organisation (Swiss Verein) Governance ===
73 +
74 +The transition occurs when FactHarbor reaches organisational maturity, forming a ''Swiss Verein'' with mission-driven statutes and no profit distribution allowed.
75 +
76 +* Governance Bodies: Includes the ''Steering Council'' (central decision-making), ''Core Maintainers'' (code review/merges), and ''Security Council" (security veto/audits).
77 +* Founder’s Role After Transition: The Founder becomes a Permanent Steering Council member and strategic vision holder, but decisions follow the Governance Charter.
78 +* Asset Transfer Protocol (Critical Legal Step): At the moment the Swiss Verein is formally created, a documented ''Asset Transfer Agreement'' is executed, conveying Copyright, Domains, Repositories, and Trademarks from the Founder to the Verein.