Those documents are available in German on the git repository of the Foundation. They were first written in German for legal reasons, but in order to ease understanding of those Articles, we would like to provide an English translation. Please keep in mind that the German version is the only one to have a legal value, the translation is provided for the sole reason of openness.

This page will be used for the translation of the Articles. This work will then be transformed into a PDF generated using Latex. If you would like to comment on the translation, please do so in italic and add your name before. jeromeg: this is a comment

To ease the translation process, I reproduced the structure of the document by translating the titles of the different sections. My German is far from fluent so do not hesitate to improve those translations.

Our Articles of Association are based on the ones of KDE which are available online : KDE e.V. statutes. This can be used as a basis for the translation.

If you have any questions about this work, please get in touch with us.

1. Under these Articles of Association we consider computer programs as free software, or “open source software”, which the originator puts into the public domain free of charge and in an irretrievable manner. In doing so, the originator allows others the freedom to use the program for any purpose, to study how the program functions, to adapt it to his/her own needs, to copy it for others and to improve the program and make these changes available for the common good.
2. Developing free software in the sense of these Articles of Association consists of research and compilation of basic principles and concepts as well as their test by programming and test of free software which implement such concepts and basic principles.
3. “Xfce Desktop Environment (Xfce)” is a graphic work environment containing not only the infrastructure for programs but also user programs, including sounds, pictures, documents and translations. It is being developed as free software and is made available to the general public free of charge.

1. The Association is registered as Xfce Foundation e.V..
2. The Association’s registered offices are located in Lübeck. Should no fixed registered office be established, it will be managed from the residence of the respective Board member acting as general manager at any given time.
3. The Association is to be entered in the Lübeck District Court’s Register of Associations.
4. The financial year is the calender year.

1. The Association’s purpose is the promotion and distribution of free desktop software in terms of free software, and the program package “Xfce Desktop Environment (Xfce)” in particular, to promote the free exchange of knowledge and equality of opportunity in accessing software as well as education, science and research.
2. The aim of the Association is to promote
   1. education, exchange of opinions and cooperation between users, developers and researchers
   2. research and debate on the impact of free desktop software and the notion of free software on society and science
   3. continuous development and research into free desktop software
   4. enhanced access to free desktop software, supporting pictures, sounds, data and documentation and the compilation and distribution of relevant material
   5. contributions and articles providing competent information to the public within the association’s field of activity and presence at trade fares and congresses, making information available to a broad spectrum of users.
   6. organisation of congresses and lectures open to the general public, which aim at promoting further training of project members and users
   7. protection of the project members free rights protecting them from the commercial interests of third parties
3. Amendment of the association’s purpose may only be made in accordance with § 3 (1).

1. The activities of the Association are exclusively and directly limited to non-profit activities as stipulated in § 2 of the Articles of Association and to tax-privileged purposes in accordance with §§ 51ff. AO (German Tax Regulations). Its activities are for the common good and are not pursued primarily for the purpose of profit making.
2. The Association’s financial means may only be used for purposes stipulated in the Articles of Association. Members will only be reimbursed for their expenses but will not receive any direct benefits out of the Association’s funds.
3. It is not permitted to favour somebody through association expenditures, which do not serve the associations purpose or are disproportionately high. Reimbursements for expenditures are made in accordance with the Federal Travel Expenses Code should no other legal regulations apply.

1. Both natural persons and legal bodies wanting to implement and promote the aims of the association may become members. Taking into account the international character of the Association and to give members the possibility to stop actively supporting and developing KDE without necessarily losing their membership, the following types of memberships are available:
   1. Active members are natural persons supporting the Association’s purpose and aims through their cooperation and who in doing so take over the complete duties of an association member. Primarily, they are expected to cooperate, participate in the general assembly and exercise their voting rights.
   2. Extraordinary members are natural persons and legal bodies, who through their membership declare their support of the Association’s purposes and aims, while refraining from voting rights and the exertion of the active members’ right to participate in the general assemblies. Legal bodies chose a representative to exercise the remaining rights and duties.
   3. Supporting Members are extraordinary members supporting the Association’s purposes and aims primarily through financial or material contributions. If desired, their names will be published on the Association’s website, and they have the right to participate in the general meetings. They do not have any voting rights.
2. An active membership will be granted if suggested by a member and supported by two other active members, if the general meeting decides to grant it or if a simple majority of the active members is obtained by means of an internet vote. The main criterion for granting membership should be the candidate’s commitment over a longer period of time and the contributions he/she made in order to fulfil the Association’s aims.
   An active member can change status to that of an extraordinary member by submitting his request to the Board. Should an active member not fulfil the above mentioned duties over a period of two consecutive general meetings, the membership will automatically change into an extraordinary membership. An extraordinary member, but not a supporting member, can submit an application to become an active member to the Board. The Board decides whether or not to accept a supporting member.
3. The membership terminates due to exit, expulsion, death, or – in the case of legal bodies – due to the loss of its legal status. The membership may be terminated on December 31st of each year, and a written request has to be submitted to the Board at least 4 weeks prior.
4. The expulsion of a member is reserved for critical situations, and generally it will be considered preferable to find a peaceful solution. The expulsion becomes effective immediately after the Board’s decision. The following reasons may cause an expulsion:
   1. if a member seriously violates regulations contained in the Articles of Association and/or the purpose and aim of the Association, and an attempt to clarify the situation was unsuccessful; and
   2. if the membership fees are not paid over a period of 12 months despite repeated reminders.

hub: I don't know how to ident in the wiki here Before such a decision will be taken, the member must have the opportunity to justify or explain his/her actions. An objection to such an expulsion may be filed with the Board within four weeks and will be voted on during the next general meeting. Until such decision will be taken by the general meeting, the member’s rights and duties remain dormant.

1. If a member leaves the Association or the Association is liquidated, no member has a right of reimbursement for the assets he/she may have contributed.

The organs of the Association are:

• the General Assembly and
• the Board.

TODO

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By-Laws regulate the association's work in detail beyond the coverage of the Articles of Association. The Board of Directors sets the By-Laws valid after the approval of the association's members via internet vote with simple majority.

Resolutions of the Board Of Directors and the general meeting are in written form and available for all members.

The Board Of Directors will constitute the payment of full-time employees through the By-Laws before their employment.

1. The necessary financial resources are obtained by
   1. member contributions,
   2. benefits from the federal state, communes and other public institutions,
   3. donations,
   4. other grants from third parties plus
   5. consideration for activity covered by common public interest, such as lectures or other.
2. The amount of the member contribution is constituted by a resolution of the general meeting or all active members via internet vote.
3. In case of the disorganization of the association or “bei Wegfall steuerbegünstigter Zwecke” TODO: Having a hard time even to understand this in german. Someone maybe have a proper translation. will the complete association's funds accrue to Free Software Foundation, 51 Franklin Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02110-1335, USA, which has to spent it solely and directly for serving the public good.

These Articles of Association were decided unanimously at the founding assembly. They become active with the entry in the Register of Associations.

Brussels, Belgium, 05 February 2011

Signatures of the founding members: TODO: This can be cut, right?