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testing colon directive
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labarba committed May 7, 2024
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Expand Up @@ -112,11 +112,11 @@ To start, your project's licensing policies should be clearly documented in your
Some projects choose to use a [Contributor License Agreement (CLA)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contributor_License_Agreement) to clarify the terms under which contributions are made and to ensure that the project has the necessary rights to use and distribute those contributions. A CLA is a legal document that contributors must sign before their code can be accepted into the project, and it typically grants the project broad rights to use, modify, and distribute the contributed code.
However, CLAs have been the subject of some controversy and criticism within the open-source community. Some argue that CLAs create an unnecessary barrier to entry for contributors, particularly for casual or first-time contributors who may be put off by the need to sign a legal document. Others have raised concerns about the asymmetry of power CLAs can create between project maintainers and contributors, as well as potential compatibility issues with certain open-source licenses.

````{margin}
::::{margin}
:::{seealso} [CLA vs. DCO: What's the difference?](https://opensource.com/article/18/3/cla-vs-dco-whats-difference) :::
````
::::

As an alternative to a CLA, some projects use a Developer Certificate of Origin (DCO) to ensure that contributors have the necessary rights to make their contributions. A DCO is a lightweight mechanism that requires contributors to certify that they have the right to submit their code under the project's open-source license. This can be done through a simple sign-off process in the commit message or pull request, rather than requiring a separate legal document.
As an alternative to a CLA, some projects use a [Developer Certificate of Origin (DCO)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developer_Certificate_of_Origin#cite_note-auto-1) to ensure that contributors have the necessary rights to make their contributions. A DCO is a lightweight mechanism that requires contributors to certify that they have the right to submit their code under the project's open-source license. This can be done through a simple sign-off process in the commit message or pull request, rather than requiring a separate legal document.
DCOs are often seen as a lower barrier to entry than CLAs, as they don't require contributors to review and sign a complex legal document. They also provide a clear record of contributor attestations without the need for additional paperwork or administrative overhead.
Regardless of whether you choose to use a CLA, DCO, or other mechanism, the key is to have clear, well-documented policies and processes for ensuring that contributions are properly licensed and compatible with your project's license. This may involve implementing automated checks or manual reviews of incoming code, as well as providing guidance and support to help contributors understand and comply with your licensing requirements.

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