linuxaudio.org

Hi Fred,
> WRT our earlier discussion about SRL joining the group, this is

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> something I'd like to do.  I now need to run this past the

> management folks at our Corporate offices -- which brings me to the

> point of this message:  the word "consortium".   In light of the

> discussions over the past week or so, my understanding is that the

> organization is a group to advocate informally the use of

> Linux-based audio solutions, with no binding legal agreements

> between members.   That being the case, I'm not sure that

> "consortium" is an accurate description.  Perhaps "Advocacy Group"

> would be a better term.

My original aim was to eventually move beyond advocacy alone to

include co-development projects and the like. Of course, that's up to

the members.
> The reason I bring this up is that, in the US at least, the word

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> "consortium" comes weighted with some rather heavy legal baggage,

> implying formal, close relations between members by means of

> binding legal agreements if not actual collective control and

> ownership.

I wasn't aware of that - I hadn't heard of that usage in the UK. What

you're describing would be called a 'partnership' here.
I've just found this feature on Google:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=define:Consortium
I like the definition from biology:
'Two or more members of a natural assemblage in which each organism

benefits from the other. The group may collectively carryout some

process that no single member can accomplish on its own.' 
> That being the case, any proposal on my part that Salem

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> join this "consortium" will put all the legal types at Corporate

> into hyperdrive.  At best, it would make obtaining such approval an

> extremely long, arduous process.  More likely, such consent would

> never be obtained at all.

Lawyers, eh?
> So, with these sorts of issues in mind, would it be possible to

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> characterize the group by means of a less intimidating term?

> "Advocacy group" works for me (it is, after all, a purely voluntary

> association that carries no legal obligation with it), although I'd

> be glad to talk about alternatives.

It is the case that we've already announced linuxaudio.org as a

consortium. However, once the management board is in place -

hopefully next week - they could discuss this issue. We certainly

don't want to put anyone off from joining.
I suggest that you approach your people in the meantime and test their

reactions to the idea, explaining that your company will not be

expected to sign any contract. 
Personally, I think goodwill, trust and peer pressure are far more

powerful than contracts. I suppose that when you sign a contract,

you've already acknowledged that trust has failed to be established! 
Cheers
Daniel