Re: In Response to Mr. Falco's June 2024 Letter

From: Klemens Morgenstern (klemensdavidmorgenstern_at_[hidden])
Date: 2024-06-28 16:22:10

> Dear Boost Community Members,

Dear Mrs. Shaker,

thank You for updating us on the status of the website.
Your e-mail raises a few questions for me which I hope You can address swiftly.

>
> Recently, Mr. Falco distributed a letter indicating intent to
> ...
> d) attempt to purchase the boost.org domain name from Beman Dawes’s
> estate.

Am I correct that Beman Dawes (God rest his soul) passed away in
december of 2020?
Didn't the boost website go dark in 2022 when the domain expired?
Why didn't the boost foundation - as the custodian of the boost
website - take action to buy it then?

I actually was under the impression that the domain was owned by the
boost foundation until recently, so I was somewhat surprised to learn
about Vinnie Falco's attempt to buy it.

> While we are surprised and saddened by this turn of events, we
> agree with Mr. Falco that cutting ties between the C++ Alliance and the
> Boost Foundation is in everyone’s best interests.

Can You please elaborate how this is in the best interest of the boost
developer community?

>
> The Boost Foundation was entirely unaware of Mr. Falco’s attempts to
> purchase the boost.org domain name. We were not consulted until it became
> clear to Mr. Falco that to proceed with the transaction, he would need the
> login credentials for the domain name provider.

Why was it that the boost foundations, who's primary service to the
boost community is the provision of the website
did not consider acquiring it from the estate in 2020 or 2022?

Why do You think that Mr. Falco should have made you aware of the
purchase more than three years after it became part of the estate and
over a year after the dns made it apparent?

> While we very much appreciate Mr. Falco's financial investment, nonprofits
> like Boost are not—nor should they be—beholden to their largest financial
> contributors.

Can You please specify what You are referring to when You say "Boost"
here? The Boost Foundation? The Boost Developer community?

> We are committed to continuing to foster a collaborative
> environment where C++ developers can contribute great ideas to the open
> source community. Boost's consensus-based process is not always the fastest
> way to the best result, but it is consistent with that commitment.
> Ideally,  Mr. Falco would be interested in contributing financially to a
> worthy cause without assuming control over the Libraries, but his letter
> indicates otherwise.

Again, are You referring to the Boost Foundation or the Boost
Community when You say "Boost"?

Can You please elaborate how Mr Falco's actions are indicative of him
trying to take control over the boost developer community or the boost
libraries?
He seems dissatisfied with the work the Boost Foundation is delivering
regarding a new website, which he licensed under BSL. That does not
sound like evidence of a control attempt.
Furthermore there I am unaware of any evidence of him trying to
control any of the code or review process. From what I can tell, he
has always followed proper review procedure. Do You have evidence to
the contrary?

Can You please provide anything but the reference to a letter that
substantiates your claim of "assuming control"?

I would also like to know what the Boost Foundation actually owns that
would make it a representative and/or custodian of Boost.
>From what I can tell it owns none of the below things

 - The Logo  (Rene Rivera [I think])
 - The Website (Rene Rivera )
 - The Domain (unless it was acquired from the estate by now)
 - The Name (does the boost foundation own a trademark?)

What is the nature of the relationship between the boost foundation
and the boost community? Is there any legal connection?

If the Boost Foundation (which You represent) claims to represent the
interests of the boost developer community, it represents my interests
as a boost developer.
It is in my interest to have correct and accurate information as it
pertains to the workings of the boost community, which are at this
point in time facilitated to the website & mailing lists.
Thus, I would kindly ask You to address my questions & concerns
publically in a timely manner.

Thank You for caring about open source C++.

Sincerely,

Klemens Morgenstern