Make Diaspora a Member of the Free Software Support Network
As Diaspora has grown into a healthy community run Free Software project in the last year, it is time to find a proper home, backed by a non-profit to help it continue to grow. While we can all agree that the community-driven infrastructure is great, there are still a number of things the project cannot directly do without an entity supporting it, such as raising funds.
The past 8 months, Sean and I have been working to find a good home for the assets of Diaspora. One that will support the project’s values, provide a nice structure for dealing with trademarks, copyright, money, and other assets that will ask both in the best interest of, but at the will of the project.
We looked around to our network, trying to find the right place, but one name was at the top of our list: Eben Moglen.
We are lucky that when we asked Professor Moglen for his help, he proposed what was the perfect solution for our community: Diaspora should join the Free Software Support network (http://freesoftwaresupport.org/), an organization that he heads up as a peer organization to the Software Freedom Law Center (http://www.softwarefreedom.org/). The Free Software Support Network operates as a non-profit holding organization for worthy Free Software projects. FSSN helps projects with the paperwork and clerical stuff that hackers generally don’t want to do, like taxes and dealing with banks ( I know you don’t want to do this because I have been dealing with it :)
FSSN gives Diaspora the following:
A respected place to hold all of the assets of Diaspora; the trademarks, the code copyright, JoinDiaspora and our money. It is a transparent organization which acts in the interest of the project and the community. If we decide we want to spend money doing code bounties or give swag to our top contributors, FSSN will let us do what we need to do.
Take tax-free donations. FSSN is a 401c3 charity. Every penny that is donated to FSSN in Diaspora’s name is dog eared for our project. This is huge in keeping the ‘back room’ of Diaspora clear, and means hackers can focus on being hackers without doing the annoying dirty stuff.
A partner that shares our values. Enough said.
What it does not do:
1) Tell us how to run our community
2) Tell us how to write code
3) Change how we create Diaspora.
The only real requirement of the FSSN is that there is a governance structure in place. After a year of experience, it is my belief that we have a great organic structure to make things more codified.
Here’s the course of action we want to take:
1) Make Diaspora a Member of the FSSN
2) Transfer all Diaspora Inc Diaspora related assets to FSSN (Trademark, hosting, Social media accounts)
3) Assign all Diaspora code to the FSSN, and amend our contributor agreement to reflect this change.
To celebrate our first year as a community project, and fill the coffers of our project, and joining the FSSN we also want to run a Crowdhoster campaign for Diaspora(see a work in progress here: https://diaspora.crowdhoster.com/help-take-the-web-to-the-next-level-with-diaspora... will launch on Monday). This money will go directly to the Diaspora project via the FSSN, and we can figure out together the best way to help the project. Since Crowdfunding AND Free software are so essential to the core of what we do, Crowdhoster is a great choice. We will be going for the same goal of 10k, and even have some cool swag made up.
(EDIT: I clarified more what I meant here: https://www.loomio.org/discussions/6353#comment-46047)
(EDIT 2 more thoughts: https://www.loomio.org/discussions/6353#comment-46413)
Jason Robinson Wed 21 Aug 2013 8:24AM
@flaburgan yeah exactly why we should vote on it. Personally I don't get it why a crowd-funding campaign would be worse now than later - the important thing is we go forward and are not too scared to do anything.
diasp_eu Wed 21 Aug 2013 8:58AM
Are we ready to make a decision? Let's start the decision process!
Flaburgan Wed 21 Aug 2013 9:04AM
why a crowd-funding campaign would be worse now than later
Because nobody heard about diaspora* for months (years?) and then we come back and say "Hey, we need money!" ...
Or we can release a new version, talk about the anniversary, create a positive buzz, and then, when more people will come / set up their pods, etc, we can say "We did a great job, we can do more if you give us some donation"
diasp_eu Wed 21 Aug 2013 9:48AM
@jasonrobinson Bad PR: Diaspora needs more money, Social networking alternative wants cash... i.e.
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2116912/diaspora-money
goob Wed 21 Aug 2013 10:00AM
I agree with what has been said about needing to vote before things such as a crowd-funding initiative take place. I don't think it's the right time for it, for many of the reasons given. Let's first get communication channels in place so that we can get out good information to the right sources about where the project has got to and where it's going (we don't even really know where it's going at the moment), and so that the world out there gets to know about Diaspora as a living and growing project again, with exciting prospects. Just putting out another call for money without preparing the ground would, I suspect, get a strongly negative reaction. Remember the email the core team sent out towards the end of 2011 which started 'We love you! That's why we're asking you for more money' (or words to that effect). So many people screamed 'What? I give you money in Kickstarter, I'm still waiting for my invite, and now you ask me for more money? That's it for me and Diaspora' etc. Let's continue as we are just for the moment, and we can discuss what we could actually use money for, before deciding to do any fundraising. We can of course, once the foundation is in place, let it be known that donations can be made, and anyone who wants to make a donation can then do so, but not actively raise funds until the ground has been prepared with good communication.
One of Diaspora's biggest failings has, in my opinion, always been communication - with its community, and with the wider world. Over the past year communication among the development team has become really open and excellent (and what a wonderful change that has been), and communication with the community has improved a bit, but there's a lot more to do to improve communication with the community and the wider world before it would be a good idea to ask for money again.
Let's get a foundation set up, get the blogs and planet set up, nominate a few people to act as press officers in different languages, so they can keep the press up to date with developments and get good stories with accurate information appearing in the media again, and perhaps have a crowd-funding or other funding initiative at the start of next year; or maybe later; or maybe not for at all.
That's my suggestion re funding.
The important thing right now, I think, is that Maxwell and Sean have come up with what I think is an excellent proposal for the future of the project. I hope it is as I thought it was, a proposal and not a fait accompli, but either way, once the transfer has taken place, it will be in the community's hands officially, and we can decide what to do with it, and could even move the foundation elsewhere or change the structure if we thought it was best.
So either we get chance to discuss and vote on it now (hopefully), or even if not we can discuss and vote on what we do next once the transfer has taken place. The important thing is for the transfer of ownership and assets to take place formally from Diaspora Inc. to the community of people actively involved in the project, and a foundation is going to act as a trust for that community, as I understand it.
I'd like space for proper discussion of and votes on the first two points Jason lists:
- Transfer the Diaspora project legally under the FSSN (this includes making sure we have proper governance in the future as that is the demand of the FSSN).
- Launch a crowd-funding campaign to support the initial setting up of Diaspora as a legal entity.
For now discussion about ownership of jd.com (surely Maxwell's sole decision, as it's his pod) can wait, I think.
I think there's an excellent proposal on the table. If there's been a failing it's been in not communicating with the community which is actually running the project until the last minute. But that's happened, let's work from here. Sean, is there time for discussion and vote, or is it too late? I certainly support the transfer from D Inc to D Foundation and the proposed involvement of FSSN.
Right – time to listen to the test match – England v Australia – far more important! ;)
Jason Robinson Wed 21 Aug 2013 10:37AM
I still disagree about the crowd-funding. We're not Diaspora Inc asking more money to a product that is not available (=invites not sent to paid "customers").
The crowd-funding will act as a big publicity thing - think of the Ubuntu Edge - it failed but it generated a huge amount of press time. We need that press time to tell the world we are here. Spamming media with "we are now a legal foundation" is not going to generate that press.
But we should really vote on this. As long as we get the FSSN part done I'd say awesome. If we decide no crowd-funding, then no crowd-funding.
Nick Wed 21 Aug 2013 4:29PM
Hooray!
So, a comment about process: nothing should be done in the community's name without the community actually making the decision, particularly where there's clear disagreement, as below. That means, I think nothing should come out of this discussion without a clear formal proposal-decision - we should all be able to agree on that. It would be deeply ironic if the diaspora community had no say in its inauguration.
I think the FSSN part is a great idea and everyone seems pretty much agreed on that - I would suggest someone creates a proposal on that, before we can continue to the two other bits of the discussion?
As for the other issues:
1) what to do with joindiaspora - there is another discussion on this, why not make that decision there?
2) crowdfunding: I don't think we should be asking for money 'just in case', but I would be in favour of crowdfunding if we have a clear idea of where its going to get us. Despite some successes recently at creating a federation layer, there's no clear roadmap as to how we are going to sort federation, or when.
I think I've said this elsewhere, but I think what would make people take diaspora seriously as a project is 1) sorting federation, 2) implementing groups and events and 3) adopting a protocol which federates it with other social networks.
Unless this 10,000 request comes with a roadmap as to how its going to get us those things, I don't see the point. And code bounties for individual parts might end up putting off developer volunteers if its not done in a well thought out way.
maxwell salzberg Wed 21 Aug 2013 6:42PM
First off, thanks to everyone for the feedback.
1) It sounds like the FSSN is something people are in agreement with. I do apologize it was a bit more behind closed doors, but you have to understand it was a slightly precarious process, trying to find the right home, doing diligence on both the project and the institution.
I will reiterate. All D* assets will get moved over to ownership. I am happy to continue to maintain JD.com for the period of the transition, or until the community can decide what they want it to become. Tear it down, make it a "pod uptime" style thing, whatever. Whatever we decide, it should be something we recognize we can solve later. No press push needs to mention it, but it will get transferred over.
I'd say we should create a proposal here and get that cleared away.
2) Crowdfunding.
I'm sorry I didn't elaborate on this further in my initial post. I'd say this would be a huge shame if we didn't do this. We can hammer out details here on what we should do with it, but I can't stress enough that you can not be afraid of haters or what people might think. If Daniel, Ilya, Raphael and myself were afraid of what was going to happen when we asked for money, then none of this would have happened.
The text on the Crowdhoster page is currently placeholder, but here is what I would like to do with the money
Sponsored four fellows to work on the project for the next six months. I think we could all agree on four people that would be worthy and deserving, and it could be a great way for the community to elect and sponsor people who share their values. To me, this could be the future of how open source community driven projects stay viable. We can just keep doing this every six months to keep people refreshed.
- Run a Diaspora conference of some kind. You all have been getting to know each other on the web, why not have a chance to meet up in real life, and put a face to a name?
- If it really goes bonkers, why don't we sponsor other, related projects are also trying to further our goals?
I'm totally open to revising these ideas , but the time to do this is now. Waiting and procrastination the road to a slow and inevitable decline.
This is fitting and proper for the following reasons.
1) It pay homage to how we got here. People LOVE the story of small groups of people who can make the change. This is a great way for the general public and press to really feel like we have passed the torch, so to speak.
2) Diaspora is more than just code. Diaspora resonated with people not just on our message of privacy and decentralization, but the fact that even via crowdfunding itself, four guys might be able to spark a change, create a community, take on giants, and make the internet a better place. It's about a glimmer of hope that a small group of people could actually make a profound change.
3) Diaspora is needed now more than ever. You all know the news. People feel helpless again, and they want to support something that helps make a difference. It's not just about the money, but when people feel like they are a part of something, they care about it a lot more. Diaspora becoming a foundation gives people hope
To address your point directly @jasonrobinson I disagree 100%. People thought handing Diaspora off to the community was it being deadpooled. We all know that is not true, but getting a new foundation to take its place is like a phoenix rising from the ashes. It's a way better headline than "1 yr Diaspora Community Anniversary." It's not about giving people invites to anything. It just about people supporting that there could be a better way to live on the web. It's about creating the perfect storm, a trifecta of good news that will get people excited again.
Do not be afraid to do something audacious. I realize it might sound a little crazy, but now is the time to take the plunge.
Jason Robinson Wed 21 Aug 2013 6:57PM
@maxwellsalzberg I wasn't really disagreeing about the buzz regarding the foundation, was just trying to say that bundled with a crowd-funding campaign it will be a lot bigger :)
Totally agree to your comments and I also agree that the time for the crowd-funding campaign is as good as ever. Life is too short to be afraid, especially of the negative feedback of others. The situation is totally different from the last crowd-funding, but the reasons are the same. As Maxwell put it - hope and a better social future. We can use this opportunity to draw attention to the project once more.
But anyway, whatever we decide it needs to be done with a vote. That is what has been agreed as our governance model, and if we fail to follow our own rules, we will fail the community project only after one year :)
Flaburgan · Wed 21 Aug 2013 8:11AM
We didn't say we don't want it, we (at least, I) said we don't want it right now. We need to prepare ourselves, list exactly what we want to do with the money, and, especially, do that when the reputation of the project will be better. So first, we announce the anniversary, release the 0.2.0.0 and we see the reaction of the press. If it's positive, if people inside diaspora* love the new version, then we can envisage to make a crowd-funding campaign. But if we are facing all the crap stuff everywhere, we need to improve the situation first, especially the joindiaspora case.