> Is it possible to allow Oracle to donate to Apache and then for TDF to go to Apache and say "Please let us have that?"
Hello Zaphod, There are two pieces to Oracle's donation: 1. Oracle has granted the Apache Software Foundation a license to distribute the OpenOffice code under the Apache License. (To answer the question Charles just posted, Oracle has retained ownership of the copyrights, and granted the ASF a license.) 2. Oracle has granted the ASF permission to use the OpenOffice.org trademark, and has indicated that it will eventually transfer ownership of that trademark and the openoffice.org internet domain to the ASF. Just addressing the code, yes, the TDF can take all of the code under the Apache License, so that part is done. I think what you are saying though is this: Can we ask the ASF to not go forward with an Apache OpenOffice project that is licensed under the Apache License. The answer is that we can ask and that has been asked. The sentiment over at the ASF is that they see value in having an Apache Licensed project. With an Apache Licensed project, anyone downstream can use the code, including TDF, IBM, or anyone else, and they can use it for open source or closed source derivatives. That is essentially the ASF's mission in life. They are a USA recognized charity (a 501(3)(c), I believe), that is dedicated to producing software that is free for virtually any use. So it is my understanding that having accepted the donation from Oracle, their preference is to do ahead and convert the code to the Apache License, so that the core ODF functionality and any other important and valuable technologies can be adopted into as many projects as possible, both open source and commercial. They are welcoming anyone to participate in that who has an interested in OpenOffice, ODF, free software, etc. They have no problem with the TDF using any code that the project produces, and they welcome contributions from any TDF members, whether they want to contribute individually or as a group. That is my understanding. Allen -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to discuss+h...@documentfoundation.org Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.documentfoundation.org/www/discuss/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted