Since 2004 or so, I have donated each year to the CentOS project, at the requested rate, for each of our servers. While I never really gave the matter any thought (fool that I am) I presumed that any organisation that solicited funds would, at a minimum, be incorporated, have a board of directors, duly appointed officers and hold all corporate identity elements such as internet domain names, brand trademarks and such as corporate property.

Evidently, my beliefs in this matter were sadly unfounded.

Now, I appreciate that whilst somewhat embarrassing, the immediate matter is easily resolved, turning as it does on retention or depreciation of the centos.org domain. Presumably those who donated bandwidth and servers to the CentOS.old project will in the main continue to support the CentOS.new project. Equally, unless some injury that has not yet come to light has been done to them, it seems likely that most of the current maintainers will move their loyalties and future technical contributions to CentOS.new.

However, having been bitten once, I feel that I must ask this more formal question. What steps, if any, have been taken to establish the CentOS project as a separate legal entity distinct from any individual contributor? What protections are being put in place to prevent future misappropriations of donations and advertising revenue, even if it turns out that no such thing has as yet happened?

Sincerely,