Hi James, I've had a really busy week, but I want to get back to doing what I can for PG Canada. It seems to me, that you have done some work already on the web site, you and Russell both have ISPs that can host it, and I and others in the forum have time we are willing to donate, so there is no technical reason we cannot move forward. Additionally, I have found a lawyer who will give us a deal on setting up a federal not-for-profit corp. Such an organization will provide a degree of legitimacy that just might help when Parliament gets around to discussing extending terms of copyright (which they will inevitably do!). I think we need to work on both of these in tandem. Can we start by copying the US or Australian site with some minor modifications for Canada and Canadian copyright laws? This I think, would get a working site up within weeks. I'm willing to do as much of the technical work to this end as I am capable. Then we can start looking at XML versions of the material for a new site. From what I've seen there is still a lot of discussion required for this to proceed. Also we need to talk about corporate plans and registration documents. Is there a Wiki we can use some place where we can start drafting these documents? A Wiki would be great because then everybody here can participate easily. Russell has one. Russell could we use a small corner for PG Canada? James, I asked before if you could act as a treasurer of sorts and collect/record/track some of the money we will need to set up this corporate entity. Can you do that? I'd start doing it all myself now except that I don't really think I can set up another site and start calling PG Canada without somebody's permission. Whos? And I don't have a server. I will however look into doing some draft corporate registration documentation, then when we get a Wiki up I'll share them. cheers, darryl
On Thu, 25 Nov 2004, Darryl Moore wrote:
Additionally, I have found a lawyer who will give us a deal on setting up a federal not-for-profit corp. Such an organization will provide a degree of legitimacy that just might help when Parliament gets around to discussing extending terms of copyright (which they will inevitably do!).
Speaking of lawyers, I would suggest that you keep trying to find some that will donate their work completely pro bono, as they should get plenty of PR just from telling people the are working with Project Gutenberg. Not that it's necessary before you get started, but in the long run, this is by far the best way. . .don't ever get used to paying bills, take my word for it! ;-) Michael
Thanks Michael. In fact the lawyer I found has offered to do all his work pro bono. Most of the cost he quoted are filing fees. Federal corporate registration, name searches, charity status application etc... There are also some law students in Ottawa who have offered to help. Last week I told all the I've learned about PG and the unique challenges that I think PG Canada will be facing. I am hoping to hear back from them soon regarding in what capacity they feel they will be able to help. cheers, darryl Michael Hart wrote:
Speaking of lawyers, I would suggest that you keep trying to find some that will donate their work completely pro bono, as they should get plenty of PR just from telling people the are working with Project Gutenberg.
Not that it's necessary before you get started, but in the long run, this is by far the best way. . .don't ever get used to paying bills, take my word for it!
;-)
Michael
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On Thu, 25 Nov 2004, Darryl Moore wrote:
Thanks Michael. In fact the lawyer I found has offered to do all his work pro bono. Most of the cost he quoted are filing fees. Federal corporate registration, name searches, charity status application etc...
Ah. . .good. . .sorry I misunderstood. . .that's exactly what we are doing.
There are also some law students in Ottawa who have offered to help. Last week I told all the I've learned about PG and the unique challenges that I think PG Canada will be facing. I am hoping to hear back from them soon regarding in what capacity they feel they will be able to help.
We have also had several heads of university law libraries help us a LOT! Thanks! Michael
Can we start by copying the US or Australian site with some minor modifications for Canada and Canadian copyright laws? This I think, would get a working site up within weeks. I'm willing to do as much of the technical work to this end as I am capable.
Copying the existing sites from PG-USA or PG-AUS is a poor way to get a website up. Their sites are static and hell to maintain. I personally have no intention of building yet another headache. If we can wait a few days, I'll be back home and we can get something better going.
James, I asked before if you could act as a treasurer of sorts and collect/record/track some of the money we will need to set up this corporate entity. Can you do that?
Yes, I can do that. -- James
participants (3)
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Darryl Moore
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James Linden
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Michael Hart