LoCo governance and incorporation policy?

[Jan Claeys]

Op vrijdag 31-08-2007 om 21:36 uur [tijdzone -0500], schreef Matthew
Copple:
[...]
> In short, it will require money. Therefore, we are considering forming a
> non-profit Missouri corporation to assist us in raising funds to cover
> expenses for marketing and evangelizing, and approaching corporate and
> individual sponsors to assist. At a minimum, being a non-profit will
> give our activists the ability to write off at least a part of their
> expenses at tax time. It also gives the organization the time-tested
> advantages of a formal structure that can legally outlive the activity
> of its current participants.

That's the advantages.   :)

At least here in Belgium incorporating also means you have some extra
costs and obligations around accounting & taxes.  Such things might
differ greatly between states though, so compare benefits &
disadvantages before deciding...

> Forming a corporation is relatively easy, but several legal issues have
> occurred to me, and I wanted to know if anyone else has attempted this
> and resolved these issues:
> 
> 1. Is it a violation of the Ubuntu trademark policy to incorporate as
> the "Ubuntu Missouri Team" or some other similar name? If it is, will
> incorporating under a more innocuous name muddy our connection with the
> Ubuntu community?

You will need permission from Canonical.

[...]
> 3. Has any other LoCo looked into incorporation and non-profit status,
> whether on a state/local/provincial level or nationally? If so, what
> have your experiences been?

I think the French/German LoCoTeams did (they "own" some LoCoTeam servers etc.).


-- 
Jan Claeys