Civic Tech Moncton is a non-profit organization dedicated to using technology to improve people’s lives in our community. Our projects are created collaboratively by volunteers and designed to support other non-profits, civic organizations, and the broader community.

To ensure that the work we produce remains accessible and continues to benefit the community, we strive to release software and other technologies created, designed, or implemented as part of Civic Tech Moncton projects as open source.

However, an open-source release may not be feasible for some works. Examples include logos, graphic designs, works containing confidential information, and works contractually required to remain closed source. These are referred to as restricted works below.

We require that contributions become the organization’s intellectual property for both types of works. This approach ensures:

1. Community Ownership: We create solutions for the public good and remain available to support community initiatives.
2. Collaboration and Transparency: Volunteers and partners can build upon past work without concerns about ownership conflicts.
3. Sustainability: The intellectual property remains available for Civic Tech Moncton use, allowing the organization to maintain and evolve these solutions over time.

This policy reflects our commitment to open, collaborative innovation that prioritizes the well-being of our community above individual interests.

If you contribute to our open-source projects, you agree to have your contributions included in our releases and distributed to the public under the project’s open-source license. However, to facilitate the enforcement of open-source licenses, we still ask that you assign copyright to your contributions to Civic Tech Moncton so we can all be collectively represented as one entity.

For restricted works, some restrictions incompatible with open-source standards are necessary to preserve the organization’s branding, goodwill, and sustainability. Therefore, we require your agreement to the following:

1. Permission for Use:
   • Members or external parties wishing to use, adapt, or distribute any restricted work created within Civic Tech Moncton projects must obtain written permission from Civic Tech Moncton.
   • Requests should outline the intended use of the work and demonstrate how it aligns with Civic Tech Moncton’s mission and values.
   • Subject to Civic Tech Moncton leadership review, permission may be granted for uses that benefit the community, promote civic engagement, or enhance open-source collaboration.
2. Prohibited Uses:
   • Restricted works created under Civic Tech Moncton cannot be used for personal gain, commercial purposes, or any activity that conflicts with the organization’s mission without written approval.
3. Acknowledgment:
   • By signing the membership agreement, members acknowledge that all their contributions become part of Civic Tech Moncton’s collective work and agree to abide by this Intellectual Property Clause.