ClearFoundation

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Overview

We're always trying to keep it simple.  Here you'll find answers to the most frequent questions.  Do you have another?  Jot an email and we'll try to answer it [ info@clearfoundation.com ].  

Our main sections are organized as follows. Please click on the righthand-side menu links:

• General Questions About the Foundation and ClearOS
• Intellectual Pproperty & Copyright Questions
• Committee Questions - Meetings, etc.
• All Questions on one page

General Questions:

Question - How is ClearFoundation funded?

Answer -  To date, ClearFoundation has been privately funded.

Question - Why set up ClearFoundation in New Zealand?

Answer -  New Zealand has a stable economy and open Intellectual Property laws that provide fertile grounds for enabling ClearFoundation to grow.  Though other jurisdictions offer similar benefits, there were some patently clear reasons to set up in New Zealand.

Question - What is a New Zealand Incorporated Society?

Answer -  A New Zealand Incorporated Society is a group or organization registered under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 and, when incorporated, is authorized by law to run its affairs as though it were an individual person.   Members are not personally liable for the society's debts, contracts or other obligations.  Likewise, members do not have any personal interest in any property or assets owned by the society.  There are a wide range of groups and organizations that are incorporated societies in New Zealand.

Question - What are the advantages of organizing ClearFoundation as an Incorporated Society?

Answer -  There are several advantages of becoming an incorporated society:

• A society becomes a separate legal entity once incorporated.
• An incorporated society can lease, rent, buy and sell property, borrow money and enter contracts in its own name.  No member of the society can have personal rights or interests in any of the assets of the society.
• An incorporated society will continue as a separate entity even though its membership changes.
• Members will not be personally liable for the debts, contracts or other obligations of the society.

Question - Will you still be offering a free version?

Answer - Absolutely. In fact you will see more Enterprise Edition features appear in the free edition in future releases.

Question - Can I upgrade to ClearOS 5.x?

Answer - Yes, upgrades from ClarkConnect 4.0 or later are fully supported. Technical details can be found in the ClearOS Enterprise Release Notes.

Question - Are the core ClarkConnect team members like Peter, Ben and Darryl still involved?

Answer - Yes. We'll be able to focus more of our energy on the software and services instead of the sometimes dreary day-to-day business operations.

IP & Copyright Questions:

Question - Who owns copyrights to ClearOS?

Answer -  ClearOS is a modular Linux operating system consisting of hundreds of software components.  The copyright for each component is located in the component's source code.  Point Clark Networks Limited currently owns the copyright to webconfig and various other middleware components.  The Point Clark Networks software is licensed under GPL.  The copyright will be transferred to the ClearFoundation in the not-too-distant future!

Question - What is protected by New Zealand copyright laws?

Answer -  New Zealand copyright protects the expression of ideas or information − not the ideas or information itself.  For example, if you write a novel, the text will be protected, but not the ideas or plot.  Someone could write their own novel using your ideas, without necessarily infringing copyright.  Similarly, if two authors independently create a similar work based on the same idea, without copying from each other or from someone else, there is no copyright infringement.

Q - Does New Zealand copyright law recognize international copyright law?

Answer -  Yes. New Zealand is a party to various international agreements on copyright protection.  This means that most works created by people in other countries are also protected under New Zealand copyright law.   Similarly, copyright material created in New Zealand or by New Zealand citizens will be automatically protected in other countries.

Q - How long will Point Clark Network Limited & ClearFoundation copyright protection last under current New Zealand copyright law?

Answer -  Until 2059.

Committee Questions:

Q - When and where will the first ClearFoundation Committee Meeting be?

Answer -  The first ClearFoundation Committee meeting will be held in the first quarter of 2010. The specific time is yet to be determined.  A vote will be held in 2009 for the annual ClearFoundation Summit between the following locations: New Zealand, Toronto, Salt Lake City and London.