Cross license foundations are foundation-like networks of contributors to online projects that can…
- upgrade or change the license terms for their projects democratically, without getting permission from every contributor
- welcome new contributors from all over the world
…all without the overhead of a corporation, fiscal sponsorship, or other legal organization.
Contributors can start a cross license foundation for their project by adopting a new kind of plain-language contributor license agreement. You can read the lastest versions of the agreement and founders’ worksheet online.
Unlike other contributor license agreements, the cross license foundation agreement is decentralized and peer-to-peer. No single contributor or organization gets any special licensing powers. Rather, every contributor licenses every other contributor, subject to rules about how new licensing decisions will be made.
Visual learners might prefer an illustrated comparison of cross license foundations to other ways projects handle IP rights.