iCommons Node Policy 1.0

Posted: 30 May 2007

iCommons is an organisation with a broad vision to develop a united global commons front by bringing together open education, access to knowledge, free software, open access publishing and free culture communities from around the world. To assist iCommons achieve this mission, we invite members of the communities iCommons serves to become “nodes.� A node is a project that is focused on progressing one aspect of open education, access to knowledge, free software, open access publishing or free culture.

Below are some baseline rules based on iCommons current service menu that we ask you to read, understand and agree to before signing on either to create a new node or to join an existing node.

Becoming a Node: Once you have identified your project, please apply for recognition of your node by filling out the information requested on our Node Registration site. You will be asked to confirm that you have read, understood and agreed to abide by the both these baseline rules and, more importantly, the iCommons policies as posted on our website at http://icommons.org. iCommons will then consider your proposal and, in particular, whether it is in keeping with our mission and policies. iCommons reserves the right to reject any proposals that are not consistent with them or if you do not expressly agree to abide by these rules and policies. If iCommons accepts your project proposal, it will notify you of its approval and who is authorized to act as node leader. It is the responsibility of the node leaders to ensure that a project is completed consistent with the project summary given to iCommons. Once accepted as a node, a project can be identified by its title and as a “Node of iCommons.�

To join an existing Node: You may join any existing node that indicates, on its node project page, that additional members are welcome or that new members with particular skills are sought. To join an existing node, register on the node website at…. By signing up, you are acknowledging that you have read, understood and agree to abide by these rules, by any special conditions required by the node you have selected, and by all iCommons policies.

Conduct of Nodes: all participants in a “node� must contribute to the project in a manner that is consistent with the iCommons Code of Conduct and must adhere to any and all applicable iCommons Policies. iCommons and/or Node leaders have the right to block the email address of anyone who fails, on more than one occasion, to adhere to applicable codes and policies.

Support for Nodes: iCommons truly appreciates all efforts by you — the members of the iCommons community — to contribute to and build a global commons. To support you in your efforts, iCommons at this stage can offer each node (either itself or via a partner) a project page for node participants to track details of their project, their ideas, progress, debates, any deliverables, results etc. iCommons will also list your node on the iCommons website and may promote your node elsewhere on the site to raise awareness of, and hopefully, participation in your node. iCommons reserves the right to withdraw official recognition and/or its support for any node that fails to comply with the iCommons Code of Conduct or other applicable policies or that substantially fails to progress its designated project.

Some limitations: At this stage, iCommons is not able to offer any services other than the project space on icommons.org, a listing in a project directory and some promotion about your node on the site. Unless specifically agreed in writing in advance, iCommons is not able to offer any additional technical support, financial support or administrative support. Nodes are set up by members of the community for members of the community. iCommons is not responsible for the progress or outcomes of any node so, again unless otherwise specifically agreed in writing in advance, nodes and node participants cannot represent themselves as having any authority to act for iCommons, only for the node (as agreed by node members themselves).

iCommons is continuing to grow and develop its community and its support network. We may need to revise this policy from time to time, in which case, we will post a new policy to this page and identify the date on which the new policy will take effect. We will endeavor to notify all existing nodes of a new policy that takes effect while their project is still current.