On 19 October 2011 16:49, Martin Hollmichel < [email protected]> wrote:
> Am 19.10.2011 17:24, schrieb Ross Gardler: > > On 19 October 2011 16:10, Martin Hollmichel >> <martin.hollmichel@googlemail.**com <[email protected]>> >> wrote: >> >>> Hi, >>> >>> I think the question we should be asking, in addition, is: what makes >>>>> us think that the model that OOo used historically might not work even >>>>> better? >>>>> >>>> +1 >>>> >>>> I think what matters is not just "oh it works fine" but how do we >>>> maximise >>>> benefits. >>>> >>>> >>>> Indeed, invest into mechanism to boost up the ecosystem to help >>> partners do >>> their business better and thus come to faster solutions for end users and >>> customers is a central issue, we should and want to work on, >>> >> I agree with the sentiment but not with the words. >> >> The ASF does not have partners, it produces software for the public >> good. Of course, the people you refer to as partners are part of the >> public. So the distinction may be not be important. >> >> However, the ASF cannot, as a charity, do anything that benefits any >> one organisation/individual more than any other. >> >> That being said. I do agree with the sentiment of where this thread is >> going. >> >> So what do you want the AOOo project to do to build this ecosystem? >> > From my old experience I would not recommend to do so, but this might be an > issue which could be discussed. > > When I speak of partners, I mean all the people and companies doing > business with OpenOffice.org, I think these a thousands around the world. > They are doing good jobs in migrating others to OOo, doing 1st and 2nd level > support, trainings, etc. what they missed and still missing is to buy "last" > level support which never has offered by the big ones (Sun, IBM, etc) on a > broad basis. I agree that this is nothing the ASF wants to provide (and I do > not recommend). But I think this might attractive to do this on an open and > non-profit basis, but of course you need for this a bunch of experienced and > full time developers. > >> >> Ross >> > Martin > Why could ASF not grant an entity eg Team OO the right to use the OOo trade mark for fund raising subject to a set of conditions. That way the fund raising is outside ASF so no complications with current legal set up and enough flexibility for Team OO to set up a sustainable organisation dedicated to supporting end users and getting donations from end users. -- Ian Ofqual Accredited IT Qualifications (The Schools ITQ) www.theINGOTs.org +44 (0)1827 305940 The Learning Machine Limited, Reg Office, 36 Ashby Road, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 8AQ. Reg No: 05560797, Registered in England and Wales.
