On Tuesday 14 August 2007, Ray Henry wrote: >Hi guys. > >These posts bring to mind two long running thoughts, one directly >related to EMC and one not quite so related. > >There was a heated discussion at that long ago FEST meeting in Ann Arbor >when we created the EMC board. It was related to it's (us) becoming a >legal entity. It was my opinion, still is, that we need such an entity >so that we can accept and use contributions to the central benefit of >the project -- contributions of code, cash, or whatever. I don't have a >clue exactly how we would set up and prioritize cash or equipment worthy >projects but many other open source projects have jumped that hurdle and >are legal entities that accept and distribute cash. > >I certainly respect the opinions of the others there that disagreed. In >fact as a condition of the creation of a board we voted that it would >not become a legal entity and it would not accept nor distribute funds. >In hindsight, I think that it might have gotten in the way if folk had >followed by lead. > >What those at the meeting did not know was that I had a couple thousand >dollars in my pocket at that moment, loaned to me by folk/companies who >would have contributed it to the start up entity but required that I not >say anything until the group decided to move in that direction. Over >the years, folk have occasionally sent or passed me a bit of cash which >I've used toward the project but always as I saw fit -- with the advice >of a few of my friends. Matt and I have also mediated the loan of >equipment for specific parts of the project. > >I wonder if it isn't time to rethink the legal entity. I'd be pleased >to pass it the rights to linuxcnc.org, .net, and .com which I received >from Dan Falck, and which expire about the time we elect a new board >next year. I know for a fact that many folk contribute real dollars >toward making parts of EMC work. > >Second thought is connected to the idea of web mediated manufacturing. >Yep someone would need to take the lead at least on a per product basis. >That person would probably never make the kind of wages that a product >coordinator (vice president) might make in a traditional business. >Probably the leader of that first product would not make much at all on >it. There is a lot of manufacturing ability among us. We've got folk >who can handle everything from electronic and computational circuits to >metal working to assembly, distribution, accounting, and product >liability. > >The nice thing about a web mediated manufacturing business is that it >scales nicely. Let me use a couple of fictional names to illustrate. >Pete takes on the task of milling the pendant housing after Bob draws it >up and produces the NGC enabled g-code. If we sell more of them than >Pete can make, Dave might jump in and use his mill a few hours a week. >If Matt get's swamped with assembly perhaps Alex might pick up assembly >for his part of the world. You get the idea.
Well Ray, I don't know if those in charge would think I'm qualified to even comment since I'm just an old fart user, but here goes my quarters worth (inflation you know). I'm reminded of the hooraw that was created, and some people actually left debian because they had the unmitigated gaul to actually want to pay for some much needed coding projects. In that case, I think personal jealousy's were unlocked that were best left sleeping. So that might be a possibility but I've certainly seen no such attitude displayed either here or on IRC. Being a legal entity might broaden the legal exposure, but again with very few exceptions, I've not seen the sorts of dumbassed actions admitted by the users here that were not also admitted as being that users fault. So I would tend to apply a large discount to such concerns. If all bugs were fixed as fast as the one I reported where the e-stop was disabled because an endless string of error pop-up boxes kept stealing the focus, I see no court on the planet (with any common sense that is) holding the legal entity responsible. It was fixed in what, <30 minutes after I reported it on IRC? I had it downloaded and built on my box in under an hour. There are also advantages, as have been noted above. On balance I'd vote gopherit. :) ========= I also like the web based production idea, but would it not be required that there was some sort of test be done to qualify that users machine & setup as being able to do that from nothing but the gcode and the correct raw material? Also, who would then be the co-ordinating collection point for the shipment of the finished product, and in charge of equitable distribution of the monies generated? Detail, details... :-) -- Cheers, Gene "There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." -Ed Howdershelt (Author) You will stop at nothing to reach your objective, but only because your brakes are defective. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This SF.net email is sponsored by: Splunk Inc. Still grepping through log files to find problems? Stop. Now Search log events and configuration files using AJAX and a browser. Download your FREE copy of Splunk now >> http://get.splunk.com/ _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
