Part 6: Legal & Administrative - ApertureViewer/Aperture-Opertations-Manual GitHub Wiki

This sixth part of the Aperture Operating Manual (AOM), "Legal & Administrative," addresses the essential legal framework within which the Aperture Viewer project operates, and outlines key administrative and operational principles. It is designed to provide clarity on licensing, contributor and user agreements, disclaimers, and the project's non-commercial, privacy-conscious operational model. Understanding and adhering to these principles is crucial for the responsible and sustainable operation of Aperture Viewer.

Within this part, you will find detailed information on:

  1. Legal Framework (Section 18.0):

    • The governing Project License (GNU Lesser General Public License v2.1), its source, obligations, and key freedoms.
    • The purpose and requirement for Contributor Agreements (CLA).
    • The comprehensive Privacy Policy guiding our commitment to user privacy.
    • The Terms of Service (ToS) applicable to users, primarily focusing on Linden Lab's ToS for platform access and the LGPL for software use.
    • The explicit Disclaimer of Warranty and Limitation of Liability under which the software is provided.

  2. Infrastructure & Operations (Section 19.0):

    • Details on Source Code Hosting (GitHub) as our primary repository.
    • Reference to Communication Platforms (detailed in Part 5).
    • The Rationale for Not Maintaining Project-Owned Servers or Extensive Web Infrastructure, emphasizing user privacy, resource constraints, and security.
    • A clear statement on Financials and Non-Commercial Status, underscoring our volunteer-driven, no-donations model.

Part 6 aims to ensure that all team members, contributors, and users are fully aware of the legal underpinnings of Aperture Viewer and the administrative philosophies that guide its operation. This transparency is vital for fostering trust, ensuring compliance, and maintaining the project's integrity and focus on its core mission.