Topic: Qora | POS | Assets | Names | Polls | Automated Transactions | Social Network - page 154. (Read 249434 times)

Aha, and what makes you sure? As far as I can see, the current poll is going to a different direction. Most are voting for joining Azure platform.

Don't be worry, qora won't join MIcrosoft.

I talked to fluffypony about it (because Monero was recently added to Azure, so he just went through the process). Here is what he had to say:


Relevant portion of conversation bolded. So, the only code that you are giving over to MS is the install script that will go on their github repo. I hope this clears up any confusion about whether MS would have any claim on any Qora copyrights or other IP.

Agreed If we end up joining the M$ program...then we should crowdfund and pay to join...

Whilst I don't doubt that Microsoft would lose any lawsuit over a clone prior to the change of license that certainly doesn't mean that they wouldn't try it and my point was the bug fixes made after the change of license could not be applied to the clones (unless written in a different manner which is another potential lawsuit).

Microsoft (and other such companies) spend many millions per year on lawyers and are always in court and quite simply CIYAM does not have the funds to be involved in any lawsuit with the likes of them.

Personally I would hope that the Qora team come up with the funds to retain ownership of the IP if they decide to go down this path.

Important Announcement: Poll created for Qora's Potential Involvement in Microsoft Azure BaaS Program

Please be advised that a poll has been created by Skerberus in regard to Qora's involvement in Microsoft's Azure Blockchain As a Service Program (BaaS).  This will most likely affect the value of your investment, so we'd highly encourage the whole community to participate!  The outcome of this poll will decide whether we will apply to join the program or not.

Azure Poll (You can access the decentralized voting system inside your Qora client by going to the Voting tab): http://qora.co.in:9090/index/blockexplorer.html?poll=%20do%20you%20want%20qora%20to%20join%20microsoft%20azure%20baas%3F

In a nutshell, MS Azure BaaS platform is the cloud computing/deployment platform designed specifically for blockchain-as-a-service (BaaS) purpose. By deploying the blockchain on Azure, it would be easier for potential developers and companies to interact and experiment with the blockchain, and create custom apps on top of the platform using existing MS technologies.
 
PROs:

1. By joining the program, we will be able to reach institutions and enterprises (banks, accounting firms.. etc) who otherwise will not be interested in learning and working with Qora.  In other words, we will be able to reach audience outside of current Crypto community.

2. Microsoft will soon offer "Azure Blockchain Marketplace" with rigorous certification process (security vetting conducted by Microsoft). This is the kind of recognition we need.

3. Azure has tools that'll make building/deploying new Blockchain technologies much easier: check out https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/devtest-lab/

4. Developers with no previous exposure to Crytocurrency and Blockchain Technologies will be able to interact/experiment with Qora utilizing existing Microsoft Technologies.

5. Big-name coins like Ethereum are already on it.

CONs:

1. Because of copyright and patent agreements that must be signed as part of the application process, NO Clones of qora or any derivative works based on Qora can be made.  For those of you who wish to be part of CIYAM's new Blockchain, you will be disppointed.  

2. A licensing contract that involves patent and distribution rights has to be signed before being accepted into the program. 

3. The contract cannot be annulled once joined.  


---------------------------------------------------

The Poll will run for 2 weeks and close on April 15th.  Feel free to add to my list of Pros and Cons as you see fit. Happy Voting!  

I'm afraid that some IRC from a "fluffypony" isn't acceptable as "proof" to myself (please hire an actual lawyer if you want to convince me).

We'll see what happens in regards to the poll but if Qora goes Azure then AT development (from CIYAM) will be ceased.

https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.14417641

(there are some links in that post)

[08:35:48] fluffypony: what did you have to sign for MS azure integration?
[08:38:26] It basically consisted of signing a Contributor License Agreement, submitting a PR to the Azure templates Github repo, and sending them a write-up.
[08:39:05] CLA agreement publicly available?
[08:42:20] jwinterm: yes, I think
[08:42:27] https://cla.azure.com has it, I think
[08:42:38] azure integration?
[08:43:06] grubles: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-blockchain-update-7/
[08:43:14] jwinterm on azure? pump pump
[08:43:27] just curious
[08:43:35] ciyam is on the qora thread talking about MS getting IP rights
[08:43:48] fluffypony: oh nice!
[08:43:51] about how if qora gets on ms azure then ms will own all IP related to qora
[08:44:20] the license only covers the code you submit to the Azure Github repo
[08:44:34] for obvious reasons you have to sign that before they'll merge it
[08:44:48] so it's just the install script and a README, in our case
[08:45:02] but literally anyone can submit the PR and sign the CLA
[08:45:08] I can go and put Qora on there and he can't stop me
[08:45:14] yeah one person did that for 5 coins...
[08:45:26] anyway, thanks for explanation
[08:46:08] is bitcoin on azure?
[08:46:16] Heyyyyyy
[08:46:20] i can't find any info
[08:46:21] I don't think so, maybe bitpay, grubles
[08:46:34] That site seems to want my github password before it lets me see anything... Fishy.
[08:46:46] http://windowsazure.github.io/docs/Contribution%20License%20Agreement.pdf
[08:46:47] foudn it
[08:46:47] no but u can just make your own template for that, its basically just a shell script that runs on the first start
[08:46:48] *found
[08:47:11] it only covers the contribution you make to their Github repo
[08:47:25] othe: similar to user data for AWS?

Where is the legal contract? Which IP rights are being given up? 

If they join Azure BAAS without paying then indeed they would be giving up the IP rights (that is in the legal contract for using the service for free).

From what I gather if you pay for said service then you can retain the IP rights (that would of course need to be verified) so if going down this path at all then I hope that it is going to be funded.

I have zero interest in having to deal with any legal issue with Microsoft (even if I would win any lawsuit) so put simply no further AT development would happen for Qora would this transpire (from the CIYAM Developers).
...

Suppose some group of developers came along and forked Qora. Then they could make a deal to join Azure and sign away their rights to that specific codebase from that point forward only, and there isn't anything that the current devs or coin holders could do about it, right?

But, if this happens, no matter what that license agreement with Azure says, there is no way that MS could force the current and evolving Qora team and consultants/contributors, including CIYAM, to do anything at all, right?

Qora wouldn't be giving up its rights to Microsoft I don't believe.

I've been wrong before, why would you say this?