[FFmpeg-devel] [RFC] clarifying the TC conflict of interest rule

[Michael Niedermayer]

On Thu, Feb 22, 2024 at 10:14:20PM +0100, Anton Khirnov wrote:
> Quoting Niklas Haas (2024-02-20 21:50:33)
> > On Tue, 20 Feb 2024 09:50:33 +0100 Anton Khirnov <anton at khirnov.net> wrote:
> > > + Each TC member must vote on such decision according to what is, in their
> > > + view, best for the project. If a TC member is affected by a conflict of
> > > + interest with regards to the case, they must announce it and recuse
> > > + themselves from the TC discussion and vote. A conflict of interest is
> > > + presumed to occur when a TC member has a personal interest (e.g.
> > > + financial) in a specific outcome of the case.
> > 
> > My preferred wording would change "If a TC member is" to "If a TC member
> > feels they are" and "must" to "should".
> > 
> > I read it as a common sense recommendation, not a legalese text. It is
> > ultimately up to the individual to judge whether they are acting in good
> > faith or not.
> 
> Okay, that makes sense to me. I am then changing my proposal to:
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Each TC member must vote on such decision according to what is, in their
> view, best for the project. If a TC member feels they are affected by a
> conflict of interest with regards to the case, they should announce it
> and recuse themselves from the TC discussion and vote. A conflict of
> interest is presumed to occur when a TC member has a personal interest
> (e.g. financial) in a specific outcome of the case.
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> If someone wants a "stronger" version of this among the voting options,
> feel welcome to propose one.

Lets take a look at "the line"

"If the disagreement involves a member of the TC, that member should recuse themselves from the decision."

There are 3 obvious choices here:
1: (unchanged) "If the disagreement involves a member of the TC, that member should recuse themselves from the decision."
2: (must)      "If the disagreement involves a member of the TC, that member must   recuse themselves from the decision."
3: (remove it) ""

Thats what the vote should be about IMO.

Then seperately, theres the question about the (unrelated) text you want to add
That too has 3 choices
1. (unchanged) ""
2. (should)    "conflict of interest ... they should announce it and recuse themselves ..."
3. (must)      "conflict of interest ... they must   announce it and recuse themselves ..."

Thats what a 2nd independant vote should be _IF_ we dont already have
a unanimous agreement about this.

Now honestly why this uses a "should" after apparently
this very dissussion here showed that "should" is interpreted differently
by different people, i dont know.
I mean either we want people to recuse themselves or we dont if specific
circumstances apply. It cannot be in the per persons free choice if they
recuse themselves in a conflict of interrest.
This just makes no sense. ... Ohh i have a financial interrest in the
outcome, i dont have to recuse myself, i only "should" ahh ok ...

The "Each TC member must vote on such decision according to what is, in their view, best for the project."
I suspect you can just propose adding this and without any vote.
There may be unanimous agreement for this

Thx

[...]
-- 
Michael     GnuPG fingerprint: 9FF2128B147EF6730BADF133611EC787040B0FAB

I have never wished to cater to the crowd; for what I know they do not
approve, and what they approve I do not know. -- Epicurus
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