Meeting:Board meeting 2009-09-17

Roll call

 * Attendees: Bill Nottingham, Tom 'spot' Callaway, John Poelstra, Mike McGrath, Dennis Gilmore, Josh Boyer, Matt Domsch, Christopher Aillon, Paul Frields
 * Regrets: Dimitris Glezos

Last meeting
https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Meeting:Board_meeting_2009-09-10

Brazilian Fedora site

 * STATUS:
 * Board requested specific changes to accommodate licensing
 * Changes have been made by domain owner, minus link to projetofedora.org
 * Link intended to show Brazilian community members where to interact with Fedora Ambassadors and other people who are involved with our central community
 * UPDATE:
 * Board issue: OK to drop requirement for link to projetofedora.org?
 * Board agrees, OK to drop
 * ACTION: Paul to send TLA once finalized

Firmware license acceptance
https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Meeting:Board_meeting_2009-09-10#t10_Sep_12:23


 * Firmware license triggers on use, not redistribution
 * How can we handle informing users of the terms? (Not firstboot, that's too late)
 * Another Spot issue -- any answer from Legal yet?
 * Intel CPU microcode firmware license doesn't trigger on use; AMD does (but it's not in Fedora yet)
 * Spot: Emailed counsel to ask about it
 * Counsel responds that none of the licenses currently in use (or in consideration) would require us to inform the user in advance
 * No further action required at this time

Commercial non-software goods license
https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Meeting:Board_meeting_2009-09-10#t10_Sep_13:25


 * Thus far we have given only licenses for non-commercial use, but the need for a Fedora store means we should consider the alternative as well.
 * Bill to present some possibilities at this meeting
 * DISCUSSION:
 * Bill presented some history and broad categories of situations the Board would find favorable and unfavorable
 * Favorable
 * Proceeds used to fund Fedora activities or compatible free and open source activities
 * Goods sold in conjunction with Fedora software, e.g. media or preloads
 * Goods sold together in a store, e.g. a variety of items offered for sale
 * Unfavorable
 * Goods sold as a small portion of a larger unrelated business
 * Goods sold in a way that does not largely benefit the Fedora Project as a whole
 * Spot clarified needs:
 * Ambassadors getting custom design freebies at shows (custom design)
 * Ambassadors getting stock branded stuff from local vendors (stock design)
 * Random user buying a Fedora branded item and not having to pay astronomical shipping costs
 * Paul: Design team tends to do a good job receiving and addressing logo/design questions
 * Bill: Need a preferred vendor in each geo, local Ambassadors work with the vendor to achieve good swag quality/design
 * Spot: Vendors may be doing other swag provision, beyond Fedora branded goods; they should be able to set up a Brand Fuel-like store front which the Ambassadors can monitor
 * Spot: Handling the money is the hardest part (where does it go, transparency)
 * Dennis: Ambassador question: "What do we do with the money we receive back?"
 * Spot: First step before setting up a vendor is to go to Finance in Red Hat and ask them to help us figure out a way of doing this.
 * Poelstra: Can we do an exchange of goods (free swag for shows, etc.) rather than a monetary exchange?
 * Goods exchange is difficult to quantify in a way that's equitable to vendor and Fedora Project; might be more difficult than money and hard to make transparent
 * Paul: Max was talking to a potential .eu vendor with the idea of a separate branded Fedora site; all proceeds go into a holding fund at the vendor that discounts goods for Ambassador use; transparency through management by Fedora people
 * John: Why are we against someone making money selling Fedora goods if it spreads our brand?
 * Paul: Fedora brand identity includes transparency
 * Spot: Want to make sure that a portion of the profits are somehow coming back to Fedora (in a legal and manageable way)
 * Criteria for setting up a vendor relationship to sell non-software goods:
 * Transparency to the entire process
 * Everything needs to be professional: website, finished goods, good customer service, contract, etc.
 * Fedora retains design control over all goods sold
 * OPTIONAL: Allow design submissions from community

Unanswered question around whether Fedora (can/does/wants to) receive funds
 * ACTION: Paul to get with Max and Red Hat Finance to get latest guidance, report by Oct. 1

Next meeting
PROPOSED: 2009-09-24 UTC 1600
 * Accepted
 * Next week: missing Dennis, Matt, and Bill