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Can there be somewhat standardized CLAs, along the lines of Apache/ MIT... licenses?

I'm aware of the following: https://harmonyagreements.org/

Still, CLAs are a barrier on their own already. Standardizing them doesn't help. Plus as another commenter mentioned: sometimes a standard CLA is used but then various bits aren't filled in.

Standardizing CLA's helps the same way standardizing software licenses helps prevent license proliferation [1].

Code hosting websites, like GitHub, should provide a mechanism for registered users to electronically sign a CLA from their web interface. No hassle, no unfilled bits, and you've got a 3rd party (e.g. GitHub) notarizing the contract.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/License_proliferation

The solution to CLA proliferation is not the proliferation of CLA use, which is what your suggestion involves. If you want to solve CLA proliferation, it's as easy as not going out of your way to add a CLA to your project followed by insisting that people sign it. Let the strength of the license (and your faith in the choice of license) stand on its own.

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