# The Contributor License Agreement

The [Cloud Native Computing Foundation](https://www.cncf.io) (CNCF) defines
the legal status of the contributed code in two different types of _Contributor License Agreements_
(CLAs), [individual contributors](https://github.com/cncf/cla/blob/master/individual-cla.pdf) and [corporations](https://github.com/cncf/cla/blob/master/corporate-cla.pdf).

Kubernetes can only accept original source code from CLA signatories.

This policy does not apply to [third_party](https://git.k8s.io/kubernetes/third_party)
and [vendor](https://git.k8s.io/kubernetes/vendor).

It is important to read and understand this legal agreement.

## How do I sign?

After creating your first Pull Request, the linux-foundation-easycla bot will respond with information regarding your CLA status along with a link to sign the CLA.

<img width="1065" alt="EasyCLA bot" src="https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/69111235/152226443-f6fe61ee-0e92-46c5-b6ea-c0deb718a585.png">

#### 1. If you are signing up as a corporate contributor, ensure that you have linked your corporate email address to your GitHub profile (it doesn't have to be your primary email address for GitHub) or else it can lead to issues with the CLA system.

For more information, please see [Adding an email address to your GitHub account](https://docs.github.com/en/account-and-profile/setting-up-and-managing-your-github-user-account/managing-email-preferences/adding-an-email-address-to-your-github-account).

#### 2. Authorize EasyCLA to read some of your GitHub information

<img width="554" alt="GitHub EasyCLA Authorization" src="https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/69111235/152228712-7d22f9d0-9f3c-4226-9ee0-bacba4b47725.png">

- Click on the **Please click here to be authorized** link to navigate to the GitHub Authorize Linux Foundation: EasyCLA page.
- Then click **Authorize LF-Engineering** to give the Linux Foundation read-only access to list the email addresses associated with your GitHub account.

#### 3. Select from the two types of contributor

<img width="1407" alt="EasyCLA" src="https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/69111235/152224818-1246453a-b086-4a57-9d14-c10d62ad438f.png">


After authorizing EasyCLA, you will be redirected to a page to identify which type of contributor you are. 
Select the most appropriate option:
  * Individual Contributor: You are contributing as yourself, and not as part of another organization.
  * Corporate Contributor: You are contributing on behalf of your employer or other organization.

#### 4. Sign the CLA

Once you select the type of contributor, proceed to Sign the CLA and follow the instructions to complete the signing process through DocuSign.

After you have filled out  the information, Click "Finish" and you will be redirected back to your Pull Request.

#### 5. Look for an email indicating successful signup.

> Hello,
> 
> This is a notification email from EasyCLA regarding the project Cloud Native Computing > Foundation (CNCF).
> 
> The CLA has now been signed. You can download the signed CLA as a PDF here.
> 
> If you need help or have questions about EasyCLA, you can read the documentation or reach out to us for support.
> 
> Thanks,
> EasyCLA Support Team



#### 6. Validate your CLA

Once you are redirected back to your GitHub Pull Request, reply with a comment `/easycla` to update the CLA status of your PR.


## Changing your Affiliation

If you've changed employers and still contribute to Kubernetes, your affiliation
needs to be updated. The Cloud Native Computing Foundation uses [gitdm](https://github.com/cncf/gitdm)
to track who is contributing and from where. Create a pull request on the [gitdm](https://github.com/cncf/gitdm)
repository with a change to the corresponding developer affiliation text file.
Your entry should look similar to this:

```
Jorge O. Castro*: jorge!heptio.com, jorge!ubuntu.com, jorge.castro!gmail.com
Heptio
Canonical until 2017-03-31
```

## Troubleshooting

If you encounter any problems signing the CLA and need further assistance, log a ticket by clicking on the link [please submit a support request ticket](https://jira.linuxfoundation.org/plugins/servlet/theme/portal/4) from the EasyCLA bot's response. Someone from the CNCF will respond to your ticket to help.

Should you have any issues using the LF Support Site, send a message to the
backup email support address <login-issues@jira.linuxfoundation.org>

## Setting up the CNCF CLA check

If you are a Kubernetes GitHub organization or repo owner and would like to setup the Linux Foundation CNCF CLA check for your repositories, [read the docs on setting up the CNCF CLA check](/github-management/setting-up-cla-check.md)


[Linux Foundation Support Site]: https://support.linuxfoundation.org/
