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OpenShipping.org

An open source standard for global shipping

Charter

01. Mission

OpenShipping.org’s mission is to collaboratively establish open standards and frameworks for the purpose of enabling and fostering digital innovation within the global shipping industry.

02. Membership

OpenShipping.org membership is open to all carriers, shippers, forwarders and service providers in the global container shipping industry.

  1. Any individual or company can register as a member of OpenShipping.org by completing the registration page on OpenShipping.org’s website. By registering to be a member of OpenShipping.org, the member agrees to be bound by the Charter. OpenShipping.org may publish a list of members from time to time.
  2. Any member will comply with the OpenShipping.org Code of Conduct.
  3. Any member of OpenShipping.org, can use the standards and frameworks produced by OpenShipping.org.
  4. Any member may propose changes, additions or deletions to the standards and frameworks produced by OpenShipping.org.

03. Steering Committee

The Steering Committee will oversee the operation of the OpenShipping.org. Responsibilities of the Steering Committee include; Approval of member proposed changes, additions or deletions to the standards or frameworks by simple majority vote of the Steering Committee. Establishment and maintenance of a Code of Conduct to facilitate the effective operations of OpenShipping.org and the members. Establishment and maintenance of the Code of Conduct will be made upon a two thirds majority vote of the Steering Committee. Establishment and maintenance of a Steering Committee Charter to facilitate the governance of OpenShipping.org. Establishment and maintenance of the Steering Committee Charter will be made upon a two thirds majority vote of the Steering Committee. Appointment of up to 2 Chairs of the Steering Committee who will be responsible for calling for meetings of the Steering Committee and who will be responsible for managing communications from the Steering Committee to the members. Appointment and removal of the Chair(s) of the Steering Committee will be determined by a two thirds majority vote of the Steering Committee. Any issues that cannot be resolved by the Steering Committee shall be referred to the American Arbitration Association for resolution by arbitration.

04. Voting

Actions of the Steering Committee may be taken at in-person meetings, via conference call, or through electronic means, including email.

05. Workshops

OpenShipping.org will host Workshops for members to contribute to that are intended to accelerate its mission.

06. Communications

  1. Members of OpenShipping.org will be able to communicate with other Members through the comments features on OpenShipping.org’s website,
  2. Steering Committee of OpenShipping.org will be able to communicate to other Members through the Announcements Page of OpenShipping.org’s website.

07. Compliance

All Members shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including but not limited to the laws of the United States of America, the laws of European Union and the laws of Greater China. All Members of the Steering Committee who are carriers and want to participate in discussions around the NYSHEX Forward Contract Template must be signatories to, and comply with, the US Federal Maritime Commission Agreement 201235.

08. Use of Intellectual Property

OpenShipping.org grants its Members permission, free of charge, to obtain a copy of the standards and frameworks provided by OpenShipping.org, and the associated documentation. Permission is without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell.

09. Contribution of Intellectual Property

  1. Members of OpenShipping.org who contribute to the standards and frameworks irrevocably grants permission to OpenShipping.org to utilize and distribute, free of charge, all standards, frameworks, and the associated documentation. Permission is without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell.
  2. Members warrant that all contributions made to OpenShipping.org are unencumbered, and that no other party may lay claim to the contributions.

10. Governance

Appointment to Steering Committee

  1. Startup Period: During the first year after launch, the Steering Committee shall consist of an initially appointed group of representatives from organizations participating in the shipping industry.
  2. Steady State: After the Startup Period, there shall be a nomination and election period for electing members of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee shall consist of elected members chosen by the Active Contributors. An Active Contributor is defined as any Contributor who has had a contribution accepted into the codebase during the prior twelve (12) months or who has attended an OpenShipping.org affiliated workshop in the prior (6) months. The Steering Committee shall approve the process and timing for nominations and elections held on an annual basis.

Voting on Decisions

  1. While it is the goal of OpenShipping.org to operate as a consensus-based community, if any decision requires a vote to move forward, the Steering Committee shall vote on the decision.
  2. Quorum for Steering Committee meetings shall require two-thirds of the voting representatives. The Steering Committee may continue to meet if quorum is not met but shall be prevented from making any decisions at the meeting. Any Steering Committee member who fails to attend two consecutive Steering Committee meetings will not be counted for purposes of determining quorum requirements as of the third consecutive meeting and until they next attend a Steering Committee meeting.
  3. Decisions by vote at a meeting shall require a majority vote, provided quorum is met. Decisions by electronic vote without a meeting shall require a majority of all Steering Committee members.
  4. In the event of a tied vote with respect to an action that cannot be resolved by the Steering Committee, the chair(s) shall be entitled to refer the matter to the American Arbitration Association for assistance in reaching a decision.
  5. All resolutions proposed for adoption by the Steering Committee at a meeting, excluding resolutions to adopt minutes, shall be circulated in draft form to the members of the Steering Committee at least two business days prior to the date of the meeting, and the text of such draft votes may be altered at such meeting.

10. Disclaimer

THE STANDARDS AND FRAMEWORKS ARE PROVIDED BY OPENSHIPPING.ORG “AS IS”, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE STANDARDS OF FRAMEWORKS OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE STANDARDS OR FRAMEWORKS. ​