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refs #82 Clarify some language
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truedat101 committed Jun 14, 2014
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Expand Up @@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ The original SMILE application was designed at Stanford, by Dr. Paul Kim.

For details about the [Stanford Mobile Inquiry-Based Learning Environment](https://gse-it.stanford.edu/research/project/smile), visit their site and learn more

The source code was given to the [SMILE Consortium, Inc.](http://smileconsortium.org) through improper channels by a Stanford faculty member. While intentions were good, the [Stanford University of Technology Licensing](http://otl.stanford.edu/) was not involved as was promised, unbeknownst to the board members of the [SMILE Consortium, Inc.](http://smileconsortium.org). As a board member, the project leader of the Open Source raised the issue about Intellectual Property, but was later forced to leave over differences with the [current leadership](http://smileconsortium.org/ourteam) over handling of the issue.
The source code was given to the [SMILE Consortium, Inc.](http://smileconsortium.org), a 501-c3 non-profit) through improper channels by a Stanford faculty member. While intentions were good, the [Stanford University of Technology Licensing](http://otl.stanford.edu/) was not involved as was promised, unbeknownst to the board members of the [SMILE Consortium, Inc.](http://smileconsortium.org). As a board member, the project leader of the Open Source raised the issue about Intellectual Property, but was later forced to leave over differences with the [current leadership](http://smileconsortium.org/ourteam) over handling of the issue.

The Epoch SMILE source was developed in a clean room environment, without access to the source code from Stanford. The development of the Server, IQManager, SMILE Plug, SMILE Student Web, SMILE Teacher Web, is all very well documented and can be traced from drawing board to inception, without taininting of any Stanford code, funding, or support. In fact, SMILE Consortium offered no material support of these projects, though the leader of the technology projects tried to get the organization working towards the goal of supporting these projects, it was in vain. The Open Source work that existed independent of Stanford been forked from the [SMILE Consortium Github](https://github.com/SMILEConsortium), and work continues to be developed in the open by [Razortooth Communications, LLC](https://github.com/RazortoothRTC).

Expand All @@ -25,14 +25,14 @@ The SMILE Junction project, which morphed into just SMILE, was perported to have

## Source Code

Anyone interested in legal use of the SMILE Android Student App or SMILE Java Teacher Desktop Application should contact the [Stanford University of Technology Licensing](http://otl.stanford.edu/).
Anyone interested in legal use of the SMILE Android Student App or SMILE Java Teacher Desktop Application should contact the [Stanford University of Technology Licensing](http://otl.stanford.edu/). The code available is listed below. It is not associated with the work of Epoch SMILE and is created either by Stanford staff or by the SMILE Consortium volunteers. The legal status is unclear until one gets clarity from Stanford's Technology Licensing team.

* [SMILE Student Android App](https://github.com/SMILEConsortium/smile_adhoc_android) - Removed repository in December 2013, recently [added back](https://github.com/SMILEConsortium/smile_adhoc_android/commit/b4f8f0fb3e069935d30601f43fdb963749149122) on April 28th, 2014
* [SMILE Teacher Java Desktop](https://github.com/SMILEConsortium/smile_teacher_desktop) Removed repository in December 2013, recently [added back](https://github.com/SMILEConsortium/smile_teacher_desktop/commit/5283a4b23744f30d3147b9ffaca090073d93d6c5)
* [SMILE Global](http://smileglobal.net/) - Removed repository in December 2013. License, copyright, and right to distribute are all in question.

## Epilogue

It is important that people understand good intentions don't justify actions. Integrity matters. Ethics matter. The law matters. When it comes to Intellectual Property and the Law, there are some clear rules to follow. When it comes to ethics, it is important to hold to some moral standards, regardless of whether ethics may stifle one's ability to achieve ambitions or get a competitive edge.
It is important that people understand good intentions don't justify actions. Integrity matters. Ethics matter. The law matters. When it comes to Intellectual Property and the Law, there are some clear rules to follow. When it comes to ethics, it is important to hold to some moral standards, regardless of whether ethics may stifle one's ability to achieve ambitions or get a competitive edge. When it comes to integrity, Open Source contributors need to disclose whether they have the right to contribute, or whether work contracts or conflict of interest may block one's legal ability to contribute. Failure to disclose is lack of integrity and puts an entire project at risk.

As a proponent of Open Source, the author of this page, @dkords, has worked hard to follow the spirit of Open Source, and the law behind it. The experience with the SMILE Consortium was a huge disappointment. Through Razortooth, he continues to promote an ethical approach to creation of Open Source. See the details of the new approach to project maintenance on the [SMILE Plug G+ Community](https://plus.google.com/u/0/112826671916880508140/posts/NFeeX1TwLDv).

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