On 13 August 2012 01:29, Rob Weir <robw...@apache.org> wrote: > 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.
Is it worth approaching eBay with our concerns? - ensuring that sellers credit (and link to) the ASF - ensuring that sellers provide clear information on the version supplied - ensuring that sellers provide the current version. - etc. Note: the seller page mentioned in this thread says: >>> Open Office 3.3 ... * This is the very latest version and fully updated. <<< That would be a good example of one of our concerns. >> >>> >>> > 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
