(IMPORTANT) This document is not legal advice.
## Overview
A Bunch Tell / Write.as requires contributors to sign a Contributor License Agreement (CLA) on certain free / open-source software projects before accepting contributions. Currently, this is only required on one project: **[Write Freely](https://github.com/writeas/writefreely)**.
## Why we require a CLA
Write Freely contains the backend code and frontend web application that are crucial to our small, self-funded business. Its code not only powers Write.as, but also Snap.as and our other products in development. We've been its sole developer since starting on the product in January 2015.
We're primarily concerned with being able to continue using our years of work in the hosted service that sustains us ([Write.as](https://write.as)), and in new complementary products. Beyond that, we bear the maintenance cost of all changes, and need to have that cost balanced out by our freedom to use those changes without strings attached.
In short, we require a CLA for this project because it lets us retain the right to redistribute Write Freely under a different license in the future (even though we have no current plans to do so).
For example, it lets us easily release the project under multiple licenses, where users could have the choice in which one to use the software under. It allows us to release another version under a more permissive free software license. It also allows us to release a version under a closed, proprietary, or actually world-dominating license, and then charge three billion gazillion dollars for it.
By signing the CLA, you are giving us the power to do this without requiring your consent. If you aren't comfortable with this, do not sign the CLA and do not contribute to Write Freely.