Section 17 ‐ External Project Relations - ApertureViewer/Aperture-Opertations-Manual GitHub Wiki

Aperture Viewer exists within a broader ecosystem of virtual world platforms, development projects, and communities. This section outlines our approach to interactions with key external entities, including Linden Lab (the creators of Second Life), the Firestorm Viewer project (our upstream source), and other Third-Party Viewer (TPV) projects. Our interactions are guided by principles of professionalism, respect for open-source licensing, a desire for constructive collaboration where feasible and appropriate, and an unwavering commitment to Aperture Viewer's mission and independence.

17.1 Relationship with Linden Lab

Linden Lab is the creator of Second Life and the original source of the open-source viewer code upon which Aperture Viewer is ultimately based. Maintaining a professional, respectful, and constructive relationship with Linden Lab is a priority for the Aperture Viewer project.

Official Point of Contact: The Project Lead (William Weaver / paperwork.resident) is the sole designated official point of contact for all formal communications between the Aperture Viewer project and Linden Lab, including its employees and representatives.
Adherence to Linden Lab Policies: Aperture Viewer is committed to full compliance with all applicable Linden Lab policies, including but not limited to:
- The Second Life Terms of Service (ToS).
- The Linden Lab Third-Party Viewer Policy.
- Any specific agreements entered into with Linden Lab (e.g., the Contributor Agreement signed by William Weaver).
Collaboration Goals and Approach:
- Desire for Constructive Collaboration: Aperture Viewer aims to be a positive and collaborative member of the Second Life ecosystem. We believe that our focus on visual innovation and creator tools can bring significant value to the platform and its users.
- Contribution of Features: We are eager to contribute meaningful, high-quality features (developed, tested, and PR-ready from our end by the Project Lead) that could enhance the core Second Life viewer experience for all users.
- Alignment with Linden Lab's Roadmap: We recognize that Linden Lab has its own strategic roadmap and development priorities. Our goal is to engage with Linden Lab to understand how Aperture Viewer's development efforts can best align with these priorities, ensuring that any proposed contributions are synergistic and valuable from Linden Lab's perspective.
- Respect for Linden Lab's Resources: We are highly mindful of not wanting to disrupt Linden Lab's internal development teams or place undue burdens on their resources. We aim to propose contributions in a way that is well-prepared and minimizes the integration effort required by Linden Lab.
Commitment to Transparency: Where appropriate and not bound by confidentiality, Aperture Viewer will aim to be transparent with its community about its interactions and collaborative efforts with Linden Lab.

17.2 Relationship with Upstream (Firestorm Viewer)

Aperture Viewer is a fork of the Firestorm Viewer codebase. Our relationship with the Firestorm Viewer project is one of an independent downstream project with distinct goals.

Acknowledgment of Origin: We fully acknowledge and credit the Firestorm Viewer Project for providing the extensive open-source codebase that forms Aperture Viewer's foundation (as detailed in Part 1, Section 2.6 and the Credits).
Independent Development Path: Aperture Viewer pursues its own development roadmap focused on specialized visual features and creator tools, which may diverge significantly from Firestorm's priorities and feature set.
Code Usage: Aperture Viewer utilizes code from Firestorm strictly in accordance with the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License v2.1 (LGPL v2.1).

17.3 Relationship with Other Third-Party Viewers (TPVs) and the Broader Open-Source Community

Aperture Viewer is part of a diverse community of Third-Party Viewers for Second Life and OpenSimulator. Our approach to interacting with other TPV projects and the open-source community at large is governed by the principles outlined in our detailed policy document:

Core Policy Document: "Our Approach to Open-Source, Licensing, and Collaboration"
- Full Text: This foundational policy document is included in Appendix [P] of this Aperture Operating Manual and is also available on the Aperture Viewer Wiki ([Link-To-Open-Source-Policy-Wiki-Page]).
- Key Tenets Summarized:
  - Unyielding Commitment to Open Source: Aperture Viewer operates under the GNU Lesser General Public License v2.1 (LGPL) and champions its core freedoms.
  - No Embargoes on Publicly Licensed Code: In accordance with LGPL Section 10 ("No Further Restrictions") and supportive platform policies (Linden Lab TPV Policy, GitHub ToS), Aperture Viewer does not adhere to informal embargoes or timing restrictions on the use of publicly available LGPL code from any source. Once code is publicly licensed and published by any TPV or entity, its use is governed solely by the license terms.
  - Operational Practice: Aperture Viewer will continue to utilize publicly available LGPL code from upstream and other TPV sources in line with the freedoms granted by the license to foster innovation and enhance Aperture Viewer for its users.
  - Respect for Attribution: We are committed to proper attribution of original work through established open-source practices like commit histories and acknowledgments.
  - Addressing Legitimate Concerns: We will promptly investigate any valid concerns regarding the inadvertent use of genuinely private, non-publicly licensed code.
  - Call for Principled Collaboration: We advocate for a TPV community that operates with mutual respect, transparency, and steadfast adherence to open-source legal and ethical frameworks. We believe that a shared understanding and respect for licensing terms are crucial for a healthy and innovative ecosystem.
General Interaction:
- Aperture Viewer will strive for professional and respectful interactions with all other TPV projects, even in cases of differing development philosophies or competitive features.
- We are open to collaboration on initiatives that benefit the broader Second Life/OpenSim user base and align with open-source principles, provided such collaborations respect project independence and licensing integrity.

By adhering to these principles, Aperture Viewer aims to be a responsible, innovative, and respected member of the virtual world development community.