[趨勢情報] RISC-V基金會總部正式遷移至瑞士

發佈日期:2020/03/19

(文章來源:北京開源晶片源碼創新中心)

由於對潛在貿易限制的擔憂,總部位於美國的晶片技術非營利組織RISC-V基金會總部近日已經正式遷移至瑞士。RISC-V基金會首席執行官卡利斯塔·雷德蒙德(Calista Redmond)正式向全體會員發送了通知郵件。

卡利斯塔·雷德蒙德(Calista Redmond)在郵件裡提到,由於從技術社區領袖那裡瞭解到基金會在開放合作、智慧財產權相關領域存在潛在政治風險,基於持續保證對開源技術和軟體的支援以及規避可能帶來的政治風險等諸多因素的綜合考量,決定選擇將基金會總部搬遷到瑞士。

總部遷移後提出了新的會員分級制度

RISC-V基金會總部遷移到瑞士,並不會改變 RISC-V 的基本宗旨或主要的智慧財產權等相關規定,但是會對原本的制度進行一些少量的修訂,以便基金會更具有包容性。今後基金會將會為會員提供更多的支援與服務,給予會員更多的參與決定許可權,繼續為加速社區建設和開源項目的發展提供更多的資金支援。
總部搬遷後基金會提出了新的會員分級制度,共分為三個等級:普通會員、戰略會員、高級會員,明確劃分了不同等級會員之間的基本差異,以便明確會員加入後在不同層級可以獲得的説明內容。在郵件的最後,基金會還提到了總部遷移後的系列過渡政策與下一步工作計畫,包括針對現有的美國基金會章程修訂權、智慧財產權等方面的規章制度進行完善優化,希望可以充分吸納各會員單位提供的優質建議。
 

附郵件主要內容翻譯(不包含會員回饋表):

親愛的RISC-V會員們:

我們共同建立了一個令人難以置信的開源生態,我們的很多成員實現了一個開放的ISA願景,以創新晶片產業。基金會發展到今天,已經獲得了全球知名企業的關注和支持,同時非常感謝RISC-V會員所作出的貢獻。今天,隨著我們總部完成搬遷,標誌著從此基金會將開啟新的征程,我們持續以開源為基礎,願建立一個更強大、更有影響力的開源生態。


RISC-V基金會理事會和我很榮幸地宣佈,我們現在已經在瑞士正式成立了RISC-V國際協會(“RISC-V”),我們親自邀請您通過新的會員政策加入該組織。

為什麼要搬到瑞士?

我們已經從廣泛的行業諮詢以及與技術社區領導人的溝通交流中瞭解並預測到開放合作以及IP許可權相關政策被破壞的可能性。雖然沒有任何國家、公司或個人對RISC-V指令集進行限制或禁運,但這一直是一個令人關注與憂慮的話題。我們意識到,開放合作以及IP許可權被中斷的可能性是阻礙投資和應用推廣的一個重要因素。瑞士被選為我們的總部,是對開源技術和軟體技術的大力支持、協作和低地緣政治破壞風險等因素進行相關綜合評估後的抉擇。

在瑞士的司法管轄下,RISC-V基金會將會有哪些改變?

將總部遷至瑞士並不會改變RISC-V的基本宗旨或主要智慧財產權條款,我們力求在原本的基礎上優化完善,通過對現有法規進行少量修改,以使其更具包容性,為我們的會員提供更強有力的權益保障,為加速躍進中的RISC-V專案提供資金支援。

1、包容性。所有技術和業務工作組、任務組和一般委員會將繼續保持非機密性。

——加強治理、擴大領導。我們將根據新的會員制度,開放許可權,讓不同層級會員均有機會通過選舉成為理事會的代表。

2、為RISC-V社區和行業提供支援方案。我們已經重新設置了會員級別,使其與更大的開源組織和最佳實踐保持一致。作為新會員制度的一部分,我們將設立新的高級職位,該職位將提供更多的財政支持,以建立更具前瞻性的專案,來服務龐大的社區生態。這些項目以6個原則為中心: 技術交付、合規和認證、可見性、學習和培訓、宣傳和推廣以及市場。

新的會員級別制度

為了讓會員加入後獲得更多的主動權,新的會員級別將分為三個等級。具體會員級別劃分制度如下:(關於所有會員和管理的更多細節可以在我們的章程和會員檔中找到)

1、普通會員。普通會員主要包括大學和非營利組織,以及不屬於法人實體的個人。公司不能加入這一級別。普通會員不需要繳納年費,但可以享有正式會員的所有福利。普通會員有權從大學/組織或個人會員中提名一名代表出任理事會成員。

2、戰略會員。戰略會員包括公司、組織和其他法律實體,並享有正式會員的所有福利。戰略會員將根據其法人實體的雇員規模承擔年度會員費,具體如下: 少於500名雇員——年費為5,000美元;500至5,000名雇員——年費為15,000美元;5,000名雇員以上——年費為35,000美元。戰略會員有權向理事會提名三名代表。

3、高級會員。高級會員包括任何具有濃厚興趣和財務支援的法律實體,並享有正式會員的所有福利。這一級別的會員有兩種選項。第一個選項為理事會級別,包括一名理事會和技術指導委員會的代表,每年需繳納250,000美元的會費。第二個選項為高級技術指導委員會級別,包括一名技術指導委員會的代表,年費為100,000美元。高級技術指導委員會和戰略會員一樣有權提名理事會代表。

瑞士和成員國的過渡方案將如何運作?

我們正與社會一道努力,使這一過渡盡可能順利。新瑞士基金會的關鍵檔位於https://riscv.org/membership-application/。請儘快與其相關內部審批人員或法律顧問一起審查檔。

現在所有會員級別均可以註冊。我們還將開始接受普通、戰略和技術指導委員會高級會員的理事會代表提名,截止日期為2020年5月31日,並於2020年6月舉行理事會提名和選舉。擁有新基金會會員資格的成員將參與其中。

所有僅限會員的活動將立即過渡到瑞士新基金會,在2020年8月31日之前,僅限會員的活動允許美國和瑞士RISC-V會員參與;自2020年9月1日開始,僅限會員的活動將只允許瑞士RISC-V基金會的會員參加。

一旦您選擇了新的會員級別並提交了線上會員資格申請表,我們將把您從美國基金會實體的剩餘會員費按比例折算作為您在新瑞士基金會實體的入會金額。您將收到新基金會開具的電子發票。

我們已將法律實體過渡到瑞士,從現在開始,我們將不再續簽美國基金會會員資格。自2020年9月1日開始,我們將把存在於美國的基金會實體轉變為一個非會員組織。屆時,我們將單獨聯繫尚未轉為瑞士基金會組織會員的其餘會員。


附郵件主要內容原文(不包含會員回饋表):

Dear RISC-V Members,

Together we have built an incredible community across our many interests in realizing the vision of an open ISA to revolutionize the silicon industry. Our progress has captured the attention and investment of stakeholders globally and we are humbled and grateful for the dedication, collaboration, and commitment of RISC-V members. Today we are building on our success and opening up the potential to build a stronger community with greater impact and potential as we enter our next phase of mainstream adoption.

The RISC-V Foundation Board of Directors and I are honored to announce that we have now officially formed the RISC-V International Association (“RISC-V”) in Switzerland and we personally invite you to join the organization as our official new home via the new membership options.

The following details will set the context for the move to Switzerland and new membership levels.

Why move to Switzerland?

We’ve heard from broad industry and community leaders on the potential for geopolitical disruption related to open collaboration and IP access. While there are no restrictions or embargoes on the leverage of RISC-V by any nation, company, or individual, this has been an ongoing area of concern. We appreciate that the possibility of disruption has been cited as a reason to hold back investment and strategic adoption. Switzerland has been selected for our legal incorporation based on a history of strong support of open source technology and software, collaboration, and low risk of geo political disruption.

Under Swiss jurisdiction, what will change?

Moving the incorporation to Switzerland does not change the fundamental purpose or main IP provisions of RISC-V. We are however making a small number of changes in our regulations to be more inclusive, offer stronger leadership representation across our membership, and to fund programs to accelerate RISC-V for our community and industry.

-Inclusive. All technical and business work groups, task groups, and committees in general will continue to be non-confidential.

-Stronger governance, broader leadership. Under the new membership options, every level will have opportunity to elect representation on the Board of Directors.

-Enabling programs for the RISC-V community and industry. We have reset the membership levels to be more consistent with larger open source organizations and best practices. As part of this we are including a new top level that will contribute greater financial support to build meaningful programs to serve the entire community. These programs center on 6 principles: Technical deliverables, Compliance and Certification, Visibility, Learning and Training, Advocacy and Outreach, and Marketplace.

What are the new Membership options?

We now offer three membership options to serve the broadest interests for RISC-V development and adoption. The basic differences between membership levels are listed here. More detail on all membership and governance is available in our Regulations and Membership documents.

-Community membership. This level is available to universities and non-profit organizations, as well as individuals not affiliated with a legal entity. Companies may not join this level. Community membership carries no annual membership fee and includes all benefits of full membership. The members at this level will have the right to nominate one representative to the Board from University/organization members and one representative for individual members.

-Strategic membership. This level includes companies, organizations, and other legal entities and conveys all of the benefits of full membership. The members at this level will incur an annual membership fee based on the employee size of their legal entity as follows: less than 500 employees -- the annual fee is $5,000 USD, between 500-5,000 employees – the annual fee is $15,000 USD, and for 5,000+ employees – the annual fee is $35,000 USD. The members at this level will have the right to nominate three representatives to the Board of Directors.

-Premier membership. This level includes any legal entity with deep interest and financial support with all the benefits for full membership. The members at this level have two options for participation. The Board level includes a representative on the Board of Directors as well as on the Technical Steering Committee and carries an annual membership fee of $250,000 USD. A second option Premier TSC level includes a representative on the Technical Steering Committee for an annual membership fee of $100,000 USD. The Premier TSC level will have the right to nominate Board representatives together with the Strategic members.

How will the Swiss and membership option transition work?

We are working together with the community to make this transition as seamless as possible.  The key documents for the new Swiss foundation are located at https://riscv.org/membership-application/.  Please review the documents together with any internal approval processes or counsel as soon as possible.

Sign-up is now available at all levels. We will also begin accepting nominations for Board reps from Community, Strategic, and Premier TSC members through May 31, 2020 for Board nominations and elections to be held in June 2020. Membership in the new entity is required to participate.

All member-only activities will transition to the new Swiss structure immediately and allow for participation by both US and Swiss RISC-V members through August 31, 2020. Beginning September 1, 2020, membership in the Swiss RISC-V entity is required to participate in member-only activities.

Once you’ve selected your new membership level and submitted the online membership form, we will apply your pro-rated remaining membership fees from the US entity as a credit to your new Swiss entity membership. You’ll receive an electronic invoice at the new level.

Beginning immediately, we will not be renewing US entity memberships as we transition the legal entity to Switzerland. Beginning September 1, 2020 we will be transitioning the US entity to be a non-membership organization. At that time, remaining members who have not yet transitioned to a Swiss organization membership will be contacted individually.