Netscape Communications Corporation hosts and administers the Open
Directory Project (ODP), and has discretion over its content, use, and
operation as described in the ODP's Terms
of Use. The ODP is an Open Source inspired initiative created and maintained
by a vast, global community of volunteer editors. The following is a social
contract that we created to reflect Netscape's commitment to the Web community
to keep the ODP a free and open resource. It has been inspired by, derived
from, the
Debian Social
Contract.
1. The Open Directory Will Remain 100% Free
We promise to keep the distribution of ODP data, and the submission
process to this data, entirely free. We will support our data users who
choose to add proprietary and revenue generating content, and other non-free
value-added functionality upon versions of the ODP in which they download.
In turn, data users agree to attribute use back to us per the free
use license.
2. We Give Back to the Web Community
We license our content as free with attribution back to the ODP. We
will make the most comprehensive, user-friendly directory possible, so
the content and taxonomy will be widely used and distributed. We will do
our best to list web sites in a fair and impartial manner, and consider
all user requests and suggestions for improvement.
We will make every effort to build a high quality and comprehensive
directory. We will make every effort to evaluate all sites submitted to
the directory. However, we do not guarantee all submitted sites will get
listed. We will be highly selective and judicious about sites we add, and
how we organize them. Sites that we do not routinely list are outlined
in our
submission policies and editorial guidelines.
We will protect the ODP's intellectual property from infringement. Netscape
owns the rights to the compilation of the Open Directory, as well as to
individual contributions. However, we provide non-exclusive, royalty free
rights back to our editors for their personal contributions, so, they can
present their material to the greater Web community in other ways if desired.
3. We Don't Hide Our Official Editorial Policies
We will keep all official ODP editorial guidelines and policies open
for public view at all times.
4. We Provide an Open Invitation to Join
We extend an open invitation to the general public to join to the ODP.
Our community is a diverse group of subject experts and web aficionados.
Our categories attempt to express the depth and breadth of human knowledge.
We accept editors from all walks of life, and we attempt to represent all
points of view. We will keep our application process open to anyone interested
in joining. Each new editor application will be reviewed by a member of
the ODP community.
Our application process is necessarily selective due to our commitment
to building a quality resource. Not all applications will be accepted.
We do not endorse any formula for the perfect application, however our
intent is to accept applications that show fairness, impartiality, objectivity,
and "fit" within our editorial guidelines and codes of conduct.
5. We Encourage a Self-Regulating Community
We foster a self-regulating community governed by community-driven standards.
We encourage the community to regulate itself, and to provide the checks
and balances needed to ensure that its members follow mutually accepted
codes of conduct and editorial standards. We depend on the honesty and
integrity of the volunteer editors to ensure the directory is high quality,
user-friendly, and free of abuse.
6. Our Priorities are Our Data Users and the Community
We will be guided by the needs of our data users and the ODP editorial
community. We will place their interests first in our priorities. We allow
others to create value-added distributions containing ODP data and data
from other commercial and noncommercial sources, subject to the terms of
the free use license, without
any fee from us.
7. Users Not Meeting The Free Use License
In order for the ODP to continue to flourish as a free and open resource,
it is critical that our users comply with our free
use license. We do not permit unattributed use of our data, and will
request data users to place the attribution on their site or remove the
data entirely if they wish not to comply. We consider unattributed use
a legal infringement of the free
use license, and contrary to the ODP's purpose as an Open Source inspired
initiative.
Last update: 2001-06-05
