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From: Jan Lehnardt <jan@apache.org>
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Subject: [QUESTION] Importing a project from GitHub 
Message-Id: <290A8434-422C-4980-9B38-479F9E2DF1A4@apache.org>
Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2015 16:31:48 +0100
To: legal-discuss@apache.org
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Dear legal-discuss,

(if this isn=E2=80=99t the right list to ask this, please direct be to =
the correct place).

The CouchDB community was approached by the lead developer of =
https://github.com/dscape/nano to have the project become apart of =
Apache CouchDB. The community has voiced some interest in pursuing this. =
There has not been a vote on this yet, though, this is just to clear any =
preliminary concerns.

Is there a precedent for importing GitHub projects to the ASF?

In particular, how do we handle the GitHub-usual main-dev-team + lots of =
drive-by-contrbutors without a clear copyright assignment step in place?

While the lead developer and copyright holder as per the projects =
README.md has made the most significant contributions (412 commits / =
41,036++ / 39,540--), some of the other contributors have =
not-insignificant (double negative alert!) contributions (17 commits / =
613++ / 53--, e.g., see =
https://github.com/dscape/nano/graphs/contributors for details).

As per ASF requirements, is the lead developer in a position to donate =
the project as a whole to the ASF?

Which, if any, of the other contributors will have to co-sign the =
donation? Or put their contributions under an ICLA of their own? Or what =
other things need to be done?

FWIW, the second most prolific contributor expressed interest in moving =
to the ASF with the project, all legalities covered. The rest are pretty =
much inactive at this point, or have only made insignificant =
contributions, that were clearly meant to be included in the main =
project.

* * *

My understanding is that getting the main contributors / active =
maintainers to do a software grant and/or ICLA will do the trick, as =
minor contributions that were meant to be included in the project (as =
per regular ASF contributions guidelines), don=E2=80=99t need the legal =
red tape.

That said, where do we make the cut off for significant contributions? =
In the given project, my gut feeling says contributors #1 and #2 =
(https://github.com/dscape/nano/graphs/contributors) will cover what we =
need, but I=E2=80=99d like to get confirmation on this before =
proceeding.

Assume all the other bits (license, dependencies, community vote) would =
be sorted.

Does the above sound reasonable or am I way off on any point?

Thank you for your advice!
Best
Jan
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