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# How to assign copyright

The way to assign copyright to Cygnus Solutions is to sign an assignment contract. This is what makes Cygnus Solutions the legal copyright holder so that Cygnus can register the copyright on the new version.

If you are employed as a programmer (even at a university), or have made an agreement with your employer or school that gives them ownership of the software you write, then Cygnus needs a signed letter from your employer disclaiming rights to the contributed software.

The disclaimer should be printed on the company"s headed paper, and signed by an officer of the company, or someone authorized to license the company"s intellectual property. Here is an example of wording that can be used for this purpose:

<INSERT COMPANY NAME> hereby disclaims all copyright interest in the changes and enhancements made by <INSERT YOUR NAME> to eCos, including any future revisions of these changes and enhancements.

<INSERT COMPANY NAME> affirms that it has no other intellectual property interest that would undermine this release, or the use of eCos, and will do nothing to undermine it in the future.

<INSERT SIGNATURE OF OFFICER OF COMPANY>, <INSERT DATE>
<INSERT PRINTED NAME OF OFFICER OF COMPANY>
<INSERT TITLE OF OFFICER>

If your employer says they do have an intellectual property claim that could conflict with the use of the program, then please contact Cygnus to discuss possible next steps.

Below is the usual assignment contract. You need to edit and replace <INSERT NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR> with your full name. Please print a copy, sign, date, and mail it to:

eCos Support (Assignments)
Cygnus Solutions
1325 Chesapeake Terrace
Sunnyvale, CA 94089 USA

Don"t forget to include the original signed copy of the employer"s disclaimer.

Please try to print the whole first page of the form on a single piece of paper. If it doesn"t fit on one printed page, put it on two sides of a single piece of paper, and attach the second page of the form. Please write the date using letters rather than numbers to avoid any confusion due to international day/month ordering conventions.

> Note: This text is also available in the eCos software distribution, in the file `assign.txt`.

    --------------------------------- Cut Here ----------------------------------

     eCos ASSIGNMENT

     For good and valuable consideration, receipt of which I acknowledge, I,
    <INSERT NAME OF CONTRIBUTOR>, hereby transfer to Cygnus Solutions, Inc.
    ("Cygnus") my entire right, title, and interest (including all rights under
    copyright) in my changes and enhancements to eCos, subject to the conditions
    below. These changes and enhancements are herein called the "Work". The Work
    hereby assigned shall also include any future revisions of these changes and
    enhancements hereafter made by me.

     Upon thirty days" prior written notice, Cygnus agrees to grant me
    non-exclusive rights to use the Work (i.e. just my changes and enhancements,
    not eCos as a whole) as I see fit; (and Cygnus"s rights shall otherwise
    continue unchanged).

     I hereby agree that if I have or acquire hereafter any patent or interface
    copyright or other intellectual property interest dominating the software
    enhanced by the Work (or use of that software), such dominating interest will
    not be used to undermine the effect of this assignment, i.e. Cygnus and the
    general public will be licensed to use, in that program and its derivative
    works, without royalty or limitation, the subject matter of the dominating
    interest. This license provision will be binding on my heirs, assignees, or
    other successors to the dominating interest, as well as on me.

     I hereby represent and warrant that I am the sole copyright holder for the
    Work and that I have the right and power to enter into this contract. I hereby
    indemnify and hold harmless Cygnus, its officers, employees, and agents
    against any and all claims, actions or damages (including attorney"s
    reasonable fees) asserted by or paid to any party on account of a breach or
    alleged breach of the foregoing warranty. I make no other express or implied
    warranty (including without limitation, in this disclaimer of warranty, any
    warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE).

    Agreed:
    [signature]

    [Print Name]

    Date:
    [Please write using letters]

    For Cygnus Solutions,

    James Buckley, Chief Financial Officer

    Date:

    -------------------- Cut Here and print on separate page ---------------------

    [Please print your name here]

    [For the copyright registration, what country are you a citizen of?]

    [What year were you born?]

    [Please write your email address here]

    [Please write your address here, so we can mail a signed copy of the agreement
    back to you]

    [Please write a brief description of the contribution]

    [Which files have you changed so far, and which new files have you written so
    far?]

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