On Sun, Aug 12, 2012 at 5:50 PM, Kay Schenk <kay.sch...@gmail.com> wrote: > On Sun, Aug 12, 2012 at 10:49 AM, Rob Weir <robw...@apache.org> wrote: > >> On Sun, Aug 12, 2012 at 12:38 PM, Max Merbald <max.merb...@gmx.de> wrote: >> > Hi, >> > >> > I'd say it's not very fair because probably not everyone knows OOO is >> > available for free. It's kind of weird that someone is trying to make >> money >> > with something which is available for free. >> > >> >> I wonder... is there anything that prevents one of us from offering >> the same thing on eBay, but at a near-zero price? For example, would >> it be within eBay policy to have an auction for "instructions for >> downloading OpenOffice"? Give all the same marketing plugs for >> features, etc., but set it as a "Buy Now" price of 1-cent or >> something. >> >> Some users want a CD, because of bandwidth limitations. But the cost >> of information, in this case, should be nearly zero. >> >> -Rob >> > > You might want to check out seller requirements first... > > http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/questions/sell-requirements.html > > I would think if we're willing to "do" this -- and set this up somehow, the > answer is "no" unless ASF precludes this, which it might. >
Drew mentioned another eBay policy that said you could not sell access to downloaded software. You could only sell the media. Looking at the ebay auctions, some of them seem reasonable. $3 or $5 for a CD and packaging, shipping, etc., is not outrageous. But I am concerned that several of the auctions seem to be selling old versions of OpenOffice including 3.2 and 3.1. These earlier versions lack important security fixes and those who distribute old versions, without a warning, are putting their customers at risk. As a project we take great pains to ensure the users who download from our website get authentic versions of our software, the latest versions, not tampered with. We give the downloader ways of verifying this, with MD5 hashes and PGP signatures. But there is no current way that we can offer similar assurances to users who purchase a CD. (Anyone who thinks users will verify checksums or signatures on a CD is deluded.) Our options: 1) Do nothing. Bandwidth and access is increasing and this problem will solve itself...sometime. 2) Define voluntary requirements for distributors of OpenOffice. Those who agree to these requirements would be allowed use of a special logo and would be listed on our website. 3) One or more community members, acting outside of Apache, could organize to sell CD's on eBay at cost, and have eBay auction listings that are upfront and honest, explaining that the software is open source and can be downloaded for free. We can give the URL right in the listing. We would make it clear that the charge is only for convenience of having a CD delivered. > >> >> > Max >> > >> > >> > Am 12.08.2012 18:19, schrieb Kay Schenk: >> > >> >> On Sun, Aug 12, 2012 at 5:48 AM, dan roch <dan.gum.tree...@gmail.com> >> >> wrote: >> >> >> >>> FYI >> >>> >> >>> I don't know if this goes agaist OO rules but this user on eBay is >> >>> selling >> >>> copies of OO. >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> ebay user: allsorts-est-2011 >> >>> >> >>> auction >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Office-for-Home-and-Student-2007-2010-2012-For-Microsoft-Windows-XP-Vista-7-/110922521399?pt=UK_Computing_Software_Software_SR&hash=item19d37f5b37#ht_8329wt_1026 >> >>> >> >> This has come up before...there is no issue with selling ANY copy of >> >> OpenOffice (old or new) as long as the vendor complies with licensing or >> >> trademark requirements. >> >> >> >> This bit at the bottom -- >> >> >> >> *Items contained on this CD are under the terms of the GNU License, the >> >> GNU >> >> Lesser General Public Licences (LPGL) or the Mozilla Public Licence* >> >> >> >> well let's hope it's right. >> >> >> >> see also, our local Distribution FAQ-- >> >> >> >> http://www.openoffice.org/distribution/ >> >> >> > >> > > > > -- > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > MzK > > "Never express yourself more clearly than you are able to think." > -- > Niels Bohr
