# Collaboration agreement The CORSIKA project very much welcomes all collaboration and contributions. The aim of the CORSIKA project is to create a scientific software framework as a fundamental tool for research. The collaboration agreement and the licensing model are based on the guidelines layed out by HSF [[1]](https://hepsoftwarefoundation.org/activities/licensing.html) or CERN [[2]](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=2ahUKEwiLqKG00dXdAhUOZFAKHdIwAh4QFjAAegQIARAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Findico.cern.ch%2Fcategory%2F4251%2Fattachments%2F101%2F505%2FOSL-2012-01-Open_Source_Licences_at_CERN-Short_version.pdf&usg=AOvVaw1n4S0PQCSeE6wbdfdhKDqF), [[3]](http://legal.web.cern.ch/licensing/software), and follow the examples of other big scientific software projects. The CORSIKA project consists of the contributions from the scientific community and individuals in a best effort to deliver the best possible computing performance and physics output. All possible liability and licensing question are strictly handled by the adopted software license. ## The software license of the CORSIKA project The license adopted for the CORSIKA project is the explicit copyleft license GPLv3, as copied in full in the file [LICENSE](LICENSE). Each source file of the CORSIKA project contains a short statement of the copyright and this license. Each binary or source code release of CORSIKA must contain the file LICENSE. The code, documentation and content in the folder [ThirdParty](ThirdParty) is not integral part of the CORSIKA project and can be based on or include other licenses, which must be compatible with GPLv3. Check the content of this folder for details. It depends on the configuration of the build system to what extend this code is used to build CORSIKA. ## Who is the "copyright holder" For legal reasons and the ability to maintain the CORSIKA project effectively over a very long lifespan of several decades, all contributors are required to transfer their copyright to the CORSIKA Project. Of course you will be duly credited and your name will appear on the contributors page and in the [AUTHORS](AUTHORS) file shipped with every binary and source distribution. The copyright transfer is necessary to be able to effectively defend the project in case of litigation. The copyright holder may change, if decided by the CORSIKA Project. The current copyright holder is the CORSIKA Project corsika-project@lists.kit.edu, with the current chair person Ralf Ulrich (KIT) ralf.ulrich@kit.edu. ## Definition of a "contributor" Contributor is a person of whom at least one merge request was accepted for the master branch of the CORSIKA project at [https://gitlab.ikp.kit.edu/AirShowerPhysics/corsika](https://gitlab.ikp.kit.edu/AirShowerPhysics/corsika). All contributors will be co-listed and credited as (software) authors of the CORSIKA project, as well as listed indefinitely in the [AUTHORS](AUTHORS) file. Contributors should add their name and contact data to the [AUTHORS](AUTHORS) file, as part of one of their merge requests. This file is always distributed together with all source and binary releases. If you contribute to any non-master branch, you can add your name to the [AUTHORS](AUTHORS) file of this particular branch, but all official releases are normally performed via the master branch. If you want to contribute, you need to read [GUIDELINES](GUIDELINES.md) and comply with these rules, or help to improve them. ## Definition and role of a "scientific author" The scientific authors of the CORSIKA project must be credited in any scientific context, for example in talks, proceedings, posters, journal paper or any other publication or outreach document. Scientific authors or contributors are listed in [SCIENTIFIC\_AUTHORS](SCIENTIFIC\_AUTHORS). Credit can be given by listing the names explicitly, or by referring to the SCIENTIFIC\_AUTHORS file of a specific CORSIKA release, or to a standard published CORSIKA reference in a refereed journal. Individuals are only included as scientific authors if the CORSIKA Projects agrees on it, and any such decision can be revisited, changed or revoked at any time by the CORSIKA Project. The list of scientific authors will change with time, reflecting the active group of individuals that actually contribute to a specific state/release of the CORSIKA project. For specific scientific publications, the list of scientific authors can also be extended beyond SCIENTIFIC\_AUTHORS by the CORSIKA Project, for example to highlight additional important input on physics, technology or modelling. ## Definition and working mode of the CORSIKA Project panel The CORSIKA Project panel makes all decisions for the CORSIKA Project. It can also change the [COLLABORATION\_AGREEMENT](COLLABORATION\_AGREEMENT.md), the [GUIDELINES](GUIDELINES.md) or any other structure or document relevant for the CORSIKA Project. The CORSIKA Project *panel* consists (October 2018) of * Ralph Engel (KIT) * Dieter Heck (KIT) * Tanguy Pierog (KIT) * Maximilian Reininghaus (KIT) * Markus Roth (KIT) * Ralf Ulrich (KIT) * Michael Unger (KIT) * Darko Veberic (KIT) and can be contacted via corsika-project@lists.kit.edu. The chair person of the CORSIKA Project is Ralf Ulrich (KIT). Members of the CORSIKA Project *panel* are *Maintainer* of the CORSIKA Project in gitlab at [https://gitlab.ikp.kit.edu/AirShowerPhysics/corsika](https://gitlab.ikp.kit.edu/AirShowerPhysics/corsika), and have special responsibilities for this reason. ## Accepting new contributors, and authors The CORSIKA Project can accept new scientific authors to be added to [SCIENTIFIC\_AUTHORS](SCIENTIFIC\_AUTHORS), or remove them from there. Agreement to be scientific author can be linked to a temporary task or assignment. Not compliance with the [GUIDELINES](GUIDELINES.md), or inactivity, are reasons to be removed from the list. ## Changing to a different license, for parts, or the complete project The CORSIKA Project can change the license for parts or the entire project. ## Planning and performing releases The CORSIKA Project decides on releases of the software, and about the content of it. ## Changes to the Collaboration Agreement The CORSIKA Project decides on changes to the Collaboration agreement.