The OpenPFC software framework is provided as an open-source software to support the open science principle. The framework is mainly developed in publicly funded research projects, but some maintenance and software development is done as voluntary work. We appreciate all the contributions to the software framework, whether they are to the code itself or to, e.g., the documentation or examples. To keep the framework package in shape, we have to follow certain strict practices, such as the contributions are always evaluated by the OpenPFC main developers and the copyright of the contribution is transferred to VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, the copyright holder of OpenPFC (see the details below).
The general steps for contributing to OpenPFC software framework are:
- Read at least the files README.md, CONTRIBUTING.md, LICENSE.md, and the documentation in the docs directory.
- If the contribution is small, e.g., a small fault in the documentation, you can point it out by making an issue.
- For larger contributions, you should make your local fork of the OpenPFC repository, make the modifications and/or additions to it, and then make a pull request.
- To avoid unnecessary work, keep high quality in your coding and document writing, check your text and test your code carefully before your contribution.
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd (VTT) is the sole Copyright Holder of VTT properTune, including all its parts and modules, e.g., allowing VTT to do further sublicensing of (parts of) VTT properTune to any party. To make this possible, VTT also needs to be the Copyright Holder of new contributions.
Any party making a Contribution to VTT properTune also transfers the Copyright of the Contribution to VTT. Contributor(s) making a Contribution to VTT properTune thereby also makes a Transfer of Contribution Copyright. VTT has the right to accept or refuse the Contributions.
This program is provided under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL), version 3. Any use, reproduction, or distribution of this program constitutes recipient's acceptance of the GNU AGPL version 3.
"Transfer of Contribution Copyright" means that the Contributor(s) of a Contribution transfer the ownership and the copyright of the Contribution to VTT, the VTT properTune Copyright Holder, for inclusion in VTT properTune.
To the best of its knowledge, the Contributor warrants that it/he/she has all necessary rights, ownership, and copyright to the Contribution and that the Contribution does not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights, such as patents, trademarks, or copyrights.
In case the Contributor is an organisation, it confirms that for the purposes of this Agreement, it has received all necessary rights from its personnel involved on its behalf in making the Contribution. Such transfer may also be executed by having this Agreement signed both by the organisation and its personnel involved in making the Contribution.
The transfer takes place upon the effective date when the Contribution is made available on the web site, by such Contributors themselves or anyone acting on behalf of such Contributors. The transfer is free of charge.