Ubuntu – real name policy in the Ubuntu community

community

I'm not ashamed to be a part of Ubuntu, but I'm trying to keep the number of web search hits for my real name low, which is kinda impossible if you use a Launchpad account.

So, I'm wondering if there is a real name policy in the Ubuntu community, or if it's okay to use a pseudonym/nick name/fake name?

While it might be okay to use nick names on IRC and in forums, how about these topics:

  • Adding an OpenPGP key to Launchpad.
  • Signing the Ubuntu Code of Conduct.
  • Becoming an Ubuntu member.
  • Code contributions (e.g., signing the Canonical CLA).

Thanks in advance for your answers!

Best Answer

this answer has now been merged into the community accepted answer

None of the wider community stuff requires you to use your real name. Launchpad and Membership both allow aliases and handles (for example, I'm Oli here, Oli on IRC, Oli on Launchpad and Oli as an Ubuntu member).

The only instance where I've seen a real name policy is a reference to the Launchpad Beta Testers team requiring real names, in a discussion on the Ubuntu Women mailing list in 2007.

In reality though, this policy seems to have changed because the current members list shows plenty of people who are either using contracted forms of their names or handles. Edit: I've found that they officially retracted this policy in 2008:

For a while now, we've required that Launchpad beta team members use
their real names. As of today, you can join the beta team whether or
not you use your real name as your Launchpad display name.

Instead, we'd like to encourage you to use your real name but it's up to you.

Although most people joining the beta team have been happy to use
their real name, you'll probably have seen discussions on this list
where people have given good reasons for not wanting to use their real
names. The last thing we want to do is discourage you from helping us
beta test new features!

I'd like to explain, though, why we prefer people to use real names.
We really value the feedback you give us when you beta test a new
feature. One reason for preferring real names is that we feel a real
name shows a greater readiness to take the beta team seriously.
However, we know that this doesn't hold for everyone: for example,
many people have a strong reputation built around a pseudonym.

So, if you've held off joining the beta team because you didn't want
to use your real name, please go ahead and join!

However for legal documents (like the Canonical Contributor License Agreement) a real name is probably demanded. Contracts are usually still binding regardless of the given name (if you can link it to a person with enough proof) but it makes the whole thing a lot more floppy for both sides.

But if you're just talking about the CCLA and you're afraid that giving your real name is an issue, talk to Canonical and they'll let you know what they require and what they do with that information. As far as I know there is no public list of people who have agreed to the CCLA (and there's no clause for this in Canonical's privacy policy) so if your name is leaked online from signing the document, Canonical have done something bad.

But I'm not a lawyer so if this really matters talk to Canonical and if that doesn't help, talk to a lawyer.

--- information about GPG ---

  • Adding an OpenPGP key to Launchpad.
  • Signing the Ubuntu Code of Conduct.
  • Becoming an Ubuntu member.

The above items require the use of a GPG Key currently, but there is no requirement that your GPG Key be signed. If you want to have your GPG Key signed you will have to use your real name because without that there is no proper way to identify you using official government photo identification as required.

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