JAM: Legalities of a Commons
As the Relational Tech Project (RTP) tends its Commons (https://relationalbuilder.org/commons) and invites people to contribute, we realize we need some help with figuring out what legal structures make sense.
Our dream is something that allows people to feel like they're in lineage with a greater context of happenings and growth in this large, evolving ecosystem of localities and local stewards cultivating some incredible local relational soil.
We want that lineage to feel reciprocal, whether it's direct returns or 'generalized reciprocity.' While each of our individual gifts to the commons may not be directly compensated, we also receive gifts from the commons that we did not directly 'earn' either - enough that we feel there's an abundance overall.
In practical terms, this means something that offers enough for people to feel:
a) safe & brave enough to share
b) aligned enough to remix
c) resonant enough to commit
This will be an emergent convo, likely along the lines of reflecting on personal moments when it's felt really bad because it's felt like someone's 'stolen' an idea. And moments when it's felt really good because someone has built off an idea! What does meaningful accountability feel like, both immediately and in the longer-term?
We don't expect equal participation because this topic can be tender. And that's okay! We'd love if you're able to speak, use chat, and be on camera because we'll either be a small group or have some break outs. Ultimately, it's all an optional invitation, and we hope you respond based on how you're relating to Zoom in that moment. We'll have an optional after-space too.
Some totally optional pre-reading (too many to read, that's intentional, no one expected to read them all):
https://relationalbuilder.org/commons/license (a draft)
https://emergencemagazine.org/essay/the-serviceberry/
https://draw-down.com/products/relational-citation-style-handbook
https://makingandbeing.com/ (ch. 10)
https://willruddick.substack.com/p/regenerative-economics-living-reciprocity