On Sun, May 20, 2012 at 8:51 PM, Louis Suárez-Potts <lui...@gmail.com> wrote: > > On 2012-05-20, at 21:22 , Rob Weir wrote: > >> On Sun, May 20, 2012 at 7:02 PM, Wolf Halton <wolf.hal...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> Miss Cubilla, isn't certifying a platform usable with a software the >>> responsibility of the hardware manufacturer? Perhaps I do not understand >>> the request. >>> >> >> If I had to guess, Acer needs to be sure that it has permission to >> copy and redistribute the AOO software. The attachment (stripped when >> sent to the list, but I have a copy as moderator) was a permission >> that Microsoft granted for X copies of Office that must be fulfilled >> via an authorized Microsoft OEM licensee. >> >> Of course, we have no such OEM restrictions with AOO. The license >> permits anyone to copy, modify and redistribute. In particular, Acer >> can source directly from us, or from any 3rd party if it is convenient >> to have someone provide additional testing or patch support. > > My experience has also been that government agencies refuse to have anything > to do with software unless it passes all the license and operational tests > proprietary software sold by a single vendor does. Put another way, it's > difficult for these public sector institutions to adopt open source software > because it deviates from the very narrow range of permissible options. I've > encountered this situation many times, in countries all around the world, > including Canada, those of South East Asia, and so on. > > Acer might be able to help her out. But I'd be quite interested to work with > her to see if she can still satisfy the government requisites. The fact that > the Apache Foundation is a separate and independent foundation with legal > status will help her and others in similar situations, but if not this > government then others, I know, will likely want to be able to assign > liability and other faults to an identifiable legal entity. > > I'd be curious how Apache deals or has dealt with other similar situations. > My guess—from downloading enough Apache software in my time—is by not making > any claim, save caveat emptor.
Europe has the IDABC eGovernment procurement guidelines that take in notice the procurement for free open source software. https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:vUzwKXE0-xcJ:https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/studies/OSS-procurement-guideline-public-final-June2010-EUPL-FINAL.pdf+&hl=en&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESi3ZJO0Tue68X-1q1YUV5c0X2a4zAM6rKo_aDViCYX0CmwAqqlurLgIBP_i8AAZCHu16ZV6ncpa7IhY21j3erMn-Q9qSYrZjWSu9nvnHlKoB95yTqx4jjalxGx9eEDRM8Txh1lM&sig=AHIEtbTOkGC1vI93bIQXwQqwgR64RdhWbw > > -louis >> >> -Rob >> >>>> Thanks for contacting us. As someone who has long championed the use of >>>> OpenOffice in education, and specifically on netbooks and other portable >>>> and mobile devices, I'm delighted to learn of your tender. You probably >>>> know this, and if you do, my apologies, Apache OpenOffice is free to use >>>> and distribute as you will and is licensed under the Apache License v.2. >>>> >>>> I have not tried Apache OpenOffice 3.4 on the Acer Travelmate. My guess is >>>> that it works fine. However, issuing a statement to that effect, as a >>>> "System Builder," may pose some logistical problems, as we are an open >>>> source project composed of numerous groups operating within the Apache >>>> Software Foundation. >>>> >>>> But your request is important. I'd like therefore to see if this solution >>>> works for you and the government: A request to test Apache OpenOffice 3.4 >>>> (for Linux, Windows 7, 8) be filed. As we are not a company as such, at >>>> least not in the ways that Microsoft is, actually obtaining the Acer >>>> netbooks for the testing could be a problem. Further, there is no saying >>>> when the test on the Acer machines would be done, as it would depend upon >>>> the availability of resources. We do not profit from Acer's use of AOO, >>>> from your distribution or any company's, at least not directly. >>>> >>>> Do you have any we can test? Are you perhaps in contact with Acer and able >>>> to connect us to that company, so that they can test the application on any >>>> of their devices? (Joining the project is not hard; we would welcome your >>>> participation and also that of Acer.) >>>> >>>> Alternatively, perhaps you or your colleagues might find it actually >>>> fastest to install AOO 3.4 (in Spanish) on the machines? >>>> >>>> The government may not approve of such a manoeuvre, as you are not the >>>> System Builder. But by joining Apache and participating, even in a modest >>>> way, say by describing what your company is doing and planning, you can >>>> effectively become part of the community building the application. >>>> >>>> These are the possibilities that may help you at this stage. I would >>>> suggest you write to us soonest with more ideas on how you wish to proceed. >>>> >>>> Again, your efforts are laudable and praiseworthy. But you are not alone. >>>> Portugal has gone through something similar—I can put you in touch with the >>>> principal agents there—as has Brazil. And there are other countries in >>>> Europe whose sub-national governments have also considered or are deploying >>>> OpenOffice on education-ready netbooks. (Norway has used Intel education >>>> netbooks, for instance.) >>>> >>>> Finally, you wrote to a very public list. You can find archives publicly >>>> available via the usual search engines. Your message has no particularly >>>> personal content, so rest assured. But do expect that my colleagues will >>>> likely also respond—indeed, I see that Alexandro has already done that. >>>> >>>> By the way, I am curious if your company would also be providing the >>>> education offices support? >>>> >>>> Regards, >>>> >>>> Louis Suárez-Potts >>>> Apache OpenOffice PPMC >>>> >>>> PS, Lo escribió en inglés por que es la convención por estas listas >>>> abiertas. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On 2012-05-18, at 17:50 , Veronica Cubilla wrote: >>>> >>>>> >>>>> Who may concern: >>>>> >>>>> Regards from Panama!! >>>>> >>>>> This is Veronica Cubilla from Cubix Panama (www.cubixlat.com ) an >>>> International Wholesaler who participated with a VAR in a tender of 17,800 >>>> laptops with Education Minister in Panama that will be used by teachers. >>>> One of the requirements of this tender was to include in the proposal Open >>>> Office. >>>>> >>>>> The laptop we proposed was the Acer Travelmate P243 which have 320GB of >>>> HDD. What we need for you is a Certification Letter for Acer as a System >>>> Builder who can replicate your software in this laptop, using Apache Open >>>> Office 3.4. >>>>> >>>>> If you need any other information about this tender you can see it in: >>>> http://www.panamacompra.gob.pa/ambientepublico/VistaPreviaCP.aspx?NumLc=2012-0-07-0-08-AV-008941&esap=1&nnc=1&it=1, >>>> where you can also find Microsoft letter certificating the usage of Win 7 >>>> Pro (which is attached). >>>>> >>>>> Thanks in advance for your help. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> <image001.jpg> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >
