The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) and Synadia, the company behind the open-source messaging system NATS, have settled their dispute. This resolution grants CNCF control over the trademark, domain name, and GitHub repositories associated with NATS. The conflict arose when Synadia announced plans to shift NATS code licensing from Apache 2.0 to Business Source License (BSL) in future releases.
Amidst the disagreement, CNCF took legal action by filing a petition with the US Patent and Trademark Office to prevent Synadia from using the NATS logo and domain. Simultaneously, Synadia expressed its intention to sever ties with CNCF and gain full control over the NATS.io domain and GitHub repositories.
After engaging in constructive dialogue, the two parties reached an agreement to align their expectations and reinforce open governance. Synadia will transfer its two NATS trademark registrations to the Linux Foundation, ensuring the project’s impartial stewardship. CNCF will retain ownership of NATS infrastructure and assets, including the NATS.io domain name and GitHub repositories, under the Apache 2.0 license.
Todd Moore, the Senior Vice President of Community Operations at the Linux Foundation, emphasized CNCF’s commitment to fostering open collaboration and shared ownership within the NATS project. He acknowledged Synadia’s contributions to NATS development and affirmed CNCF’s dedication to supporting the project’s growth and sustainability.
The joint statement issued by the parties clarified that Synadia retains the freedom to pursue commercial interests by enhancing the open-source NATS project. However, if Synadia chooses to create a proprietary offering based on the NATS server code in the future, it must do so under a new name.
Derek Collison, CEO of Synadia and the creator of NATS, expressed his enduring dedication to the project, emphasizing the team’s commitment to providing impactful technology for the global community. Collison also expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support received from the global community, affirming the desire to deepen collaboration with the Linux Foundation and CNCF to ensure NATS’ continued success.
This resolution underscores the significance of open-source governance and the importance of clear communication and cooperation among stakeholders in the software development community. By upholding principles of neutrality and shared ownership, CNCF and Synadia have paved the way for continued innovation and growth within the NATS project.
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