5 ms·

> Google owns the copyright Giant Red Flag

flancian 6y ago
Oh, interesting -- why do you think so? I considered this for a while and I didn't find any downsides. It's open source; can be forked anytime by anyone. I do this on my free time.
- arbol 6y ago
  Why does Google own the copyright then?
  - thristian 6y ago
    Because Google owns the copyright to everything their employees make during their employment, whether or not they do it on company time or use company resources.
    - flancian 6y ago
      Exactly, thank you. I understand there is often a reaction to seeing "copyright by Google"; but I researched it and it didn't seem to have any consequences of note. The one thing I know of is that contributors to the project must sign a (one time only) CLA: https://cla.developers.google.com/about/google-individual https://cla.developers.google.com/about/google-individual I hope this isn't an issue for you; if it is, please reach out -- or consider forking! :) https://anagora.org/node/open-source https://anagora.org/node/open-source
      - corobo 6y ago
        Because Google has killed every social play they've ever tried tbh. I can't get invested. This isn't the same as the killedbygoogle complaint. I know they kill a lot because they try a lot but social is Google's Moby Dick. They'll jump on it and fuck it up if it takes off. Fair disclosure I know it's distributed and as such I've got this link up my sleeve https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/05/google-abandons-open-standards-instant-messaging https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/05/google-abandons-open-s...
        flancian 6y ago
        I won't try to dispel this notion; I think your opinion is valid. I'll just say that in my experience Google is made up from a majority of people with good intentions :) I'm interested in discussing how precisely Google could negatively affect the project -- I currently don't think that's possible, but I might be missing something.
        corobo 6y ago
        Of course on the individual level Google hoovers up the smartest in the world! As a company though, social network shambles every time haha. I don't know how they'd mess it up, gut feeling really. I do honestly wish you the best of luck outside of my cynicism!
        indigochill 6y ago
        The difference here is that this is not formally a Google project the way Wave, G+, etc were. This is just someone's hobby that incidentally Google owns the copyright to because tech companies treat engineers like glorified slaves when it comes to intellectual property. Google kills social projects they run, but since they don't run this one, I don't see them interfering. Their ownership is just a technicality because of stone age IP law.
        deleted 6y ago
        [deleted]
        corobo 6y ago
        They don't take the copyright from you for a laugh.
    - arbol 6y ago
      That's far too overreaching. I wouldn't work somewhere that had ownership over my free time like this.
      - deleted 6y ago
        [deleted]
- pabs3 6y ago
  Software Freedom Conservancy's ContractPatch project has some exploration of this and other issues in employment contracts: https://sfconservancy.org/contractpatch/ https://sfconservancy.org/contractpatch/
- hansdieter1337 6y ago
  Have you though about using a pseudonym instead of your real identity for this? My contract even forbids me to contribute to OSS. You can’t advertise with any of your OSS work on your CV though.
  - alkonaut 6y ago
    > My contract even forbids me to contribute to OSS What, in your spare time? That seems... restrictive
    - hollowcelery 6y ago
      The standard Google employee contract contains this restriction. It's easier for them to institute a blanket ban on open source contributions (including in one's spare time) and then consider exceptions on a case-by-case basis. They have a dedicated internal committee that fields employee requests to work on open source projects.
      - alkonaut 6y ago
        Weird to even impose any restrictions at all outside of working hours. Can’t see how it’s any of my employers’ business? How would they view working a second job? Does it matter in what field?
      - 3np 6y ago
        Depends on where. In many places this would be unenforceable and in some places illegal.
  - flancian 6y ago
    I'm sorry to read. Mine doesn't, I'm lucky. flancian is a pseudonym but many people know my real name, it's no secret.
amelius 6y ago
Google != Oracle

Oh, interesting -- why do you think so? I considered this for a while and I didn't find any downsides. It's open source; can be forked anytime by anyone. I do this on my free time.

arbol 6y ago
Why does Google own the copyright then?
- thristian 6y ago
  Because Google owns the copyright to everything their employees make during their employment, whether or not they do it on company time or use company resources.
  - flancian 6y ago
    Exactly, thank you. I understand there is often a reaction to seeing "copyright by Google"; but I researched it and it didn't seem to have any consequences of note. The one thing I know of is that contributors to the project must sign a (one time only) CLA: https://cla.developers.google.com/about/google-individual https://cla.developers.google.com/about/google-individual I hope this isn't an issue for you; if it is, please reach out -- or consider forking! :) https://anagora.org/node/open-source https://anagora.org/node/open-source
    - corobo 6y ago
      Because Google has killed every social play they've ever tried tbh. I can't get invested. This isn't the same as the killedbygoogle complaint. I know they kill a lot because they try a lot but social is Google's Moby Dick. They'll jump on it and fuck it up if it takes off. Fair disclosure I know it's distributed and as such I've got this link up my sleeve https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/05/google-abandons-open-standards-instant-messaging https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/05/google-abandons-open-s...
      - flancian 6y ago
        I won't try to dispel this notion; I think your opinion is valid. I'll just say that in my experience Google is made up from a majority of people with good intentions :) I'm interested in discussing how precisely Google could negatively affect the project -- I currently don't think that's possible, but I might be missing something.
        corobo 6y ago
        Of course on the individual level Google hoovers up the smartest in the world! As a company though, social network shambles every time haha. I don't know how they'd mess it up, gut feeling really. I do honestly wish you the best of luck outside of my cynicism!
        indigochill 6y ago
        The difference here is that this is not formally a Google project the way Wave, G+, etc were. This is just someone's hobby that incidentally Google owns the copyright to because tech companies treat engineers like glorified slaves when it comes to intellectual property. Google kills social projects they run, but since they don't run this one, I don't see them interfering. Their ownership is just a technicality because of stone age IP law.
        deleted 6y ago
        [deleted]
        corobo 6y ago
        They don't take the copyright from you for a laugh.
  - arbol 6y ago
    That's far too overreaching. I wouldn't work somewhere that had ownership over my free time like this.
    - deleted 6y ago
      [deleted]
pabs3 6y ago
Software Freedom Conservancy's ContractPatch project has some exploration of this and other issues in employment contracts: https://sfconservancy.org/contractpatch/ https://sfconservancy.org/contractpatch/
hansdieter1337 6y ago
Have you though about using a pseudonym instead of your real identity for this? My contract even forbids me to contribute to OSS. You can’t advertise with any of your OSS work on your CV though.
- alkonaut 6y ago
  > My contract even forbids me to contribute to OSS What, in your spare time? That seems... restrictive
  - hollowcelery 6y ago
    The standard Google employee contract contains this restriction. It's easier for them to institute a blanket ban on open source contributions (including in one's spare time) and then consider exceptions on a case-by-case basis. They have a dedicated internal committee that fields employee requests to work on open source projects.
    - alkonaut 6y ago
      Weird to even impose any restrictions at all outside of working hours. Can’t see how it’s any of my employers’ business? How would they view working a second job? Does it matter in what field?
    - 3np 6y ago
      Depends on where. In many places this would be unenforceable and in some places illegal.
- flancian 6y ago
  I'm sorry to read. Mine doesn't, I'm lucky. flancian is a pseudonym but many people know my real name, it's no secret.

amelius 6y ago

Google != Oracle