Re: [libreoffice-marketing] AppStore
On 27 Jun 2011, at 12:50, Benjamin Horst wrote: When we discussed this last year, I researched a bit and found the following article from the FSF: http://www.fsf.org/news/2010-05-app-store-compliance The article's summary: An iPhone port of GNU Go is currently being distributed through Apple's App Store. However, this distribution is not in compliance with the GNU GPL. The primary problem is that Apple imposes numerous legal restrictions on use and distribution of GNU Go through the iTunes Store Terms of Service, which is forbidden by section 6 of GPLv2. So today we have written to Apple and asked them to come into compliance. We would be happy to see Apple distribute these programs under the GPL's terms, but unfortunately, it seems much more likely that they'll simply make the problem go away by removing GNU Go from the App Store. I think the above refers to the iOS App Store, but I do not know if the relevant terms are any different for the Mac App Store. (I think it predates the existence of the Mac App Store.) The other difference is that the article refers to the GPL and not specifically the LGPL license. I will follow up further and let you know what I discover. I've heard back from Brett Smith from the FSF. They had not previously analyzed the details of the interaction between the LGPL and Mac App Store, but are working on that now. We may hear more information as soon as tomorrow or shortly thereafter. Meanwhile, do any LibO developers have an Apple developer account? This is a necessary prerequisite to submitting an application to the Mac App Store. -Ben Benjamin Horst bho...@mac.com 646-464-2314 (Eastern) www.solidoffice.com -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to marketing+h...@global.libreoffice.org Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/marketing/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-marketing] AppStore
On Jun 27, 2011, at 9:37 PM, Simon Phipps wrote: On 27 Jun 2011, at 12:50, Benjamin Horst wrote: When we discussed this last year, I researched a bit and found the following article from the FSF: http://www.fsf.org/news/2010-05-app-store-compliance The article's summary: An iPhone port of GNU Go is currently being distributed through Apple's App Store. However, this distribution is not in compliance with the GNU GPL. The primary problem is that Apple imposes numerous legal restrictions on use and distribution of GNU Go through the iTunes Store Terms of Service, which is forbidden by section 6 of GPLv2. So today we have written to Apple and asked them to come into compliance. We would be happy to see Apple distribute these programs under the GPL's terms, but unfortunately, it seems much more likely that they'll simply make the problem go away by removing GNU Go from the App Store. I think the above refers to the iOS App Store, but I do not know if the relevant terms are any different for the Mac App Store. (I think it predates the existence of the Mac App Store.) The other difference is that the article refers to the GPL and not specifically the LGPL license. I will follow up further and let you know what I discover. Personally I think that conclusion is debatable. While Apple was the channel, the actual distribution was done by whoever put the software into the channel and it's not obvious to me that the situation is any different to, say, buying a PC with Linux on it from a members only retailer like CostCo. As long as the offer of source was made, I suspect an equally valid case could be constructed that there's no coming into compliance to be done. Indeed, it's not a universally-agreed conclusion. I have discovered a popular GPLv2 licensed application in the Mac App Store, which could be a good sign for us. I have contacted the author of the above article on FSF's site to see if he can provide more information for us. I have also contacted the author of the GPLv2 app on the Mac App Store to learn from his experience and ask for a little help. Not that I am a lawyer, of course :-) Just saying that I suspect the action in that link was motivated more by politics than by legal certainty... If there is uncertainty around it, then we should proceed boldly and confidently, and just get it done instead of censoring ourselves. There is too much to gain to ignore this opportunity! -Ben Benjamin Horst bho...@mac.com 646-464-2314 (Eastern) www.solidoffice.com -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to marketing+h...@global.libreoffice.org Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/marketing/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-marketing] AppStore
On Jun 25, 2011, at 4:36 PM, Cor Nouws wrote: Charles-H. Schulz wrote (25-06-11 14:52) There was quite a lengthy discussion on the discuss list months ago about the same topic. Many things were written. I think that what would be really helpful would be if someone were to review the various app stores rules and terms, and identify the ones we can readily work with and the other ones where we would have a major legal problem. Would you like to drive this? [...] I support that proposal, Charles ! When we discussed this last year, I researched a bit and found the following article from the FSF: http://www.fsf.org/news/2010-05-app-store-compliance The article's summary: An iPhone port of GNU Go is currently being distributed through Apple's App Store. However, this distribution is not in compliance with the GNU GPL. The primary problem is that Apple imposes numerous legal restrictions on use and distribution of GNU Go through the iTunes Store Terms of Service, which is forbidden by section 6 of GPLv2. So today we have written to Apple and asked them to come into compliance. We would be happy to see Apple distribute these programs under the GPL's terms, but unfortunately, it seems much more likely that they'll simply make the problem go away by removing GNU Go from the App Store. I think the above refers to the iOS App Store, but I do not know if the relevant terms are any different for the Mac App Store. (I think it predates the existence of the Mac App Store.) The other difference is that the article refers to the GPL and not specifically the LGPL license. I will follow up further and let you know what I discover. -Ben Benjamin Horst bho...@mac.com 646-464-2314 (Eastern) www.solidoffice.com -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to marketing+h...@global.libreoffice.org Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/marketing/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-marketing] AppStore
On 27 Jun 2011, at 12:50, Benjamin Horst wrote: On Jun 25, 2011, at 4:36 PM, Cor Nouws wrote: Charles-H. Schulz wrote (25-06-11 14:52) There was quite a lengthy discussion on the discuss list months ago about the same topic. Many things were written. I think that what would be really helpful would be if someone were to review the various app stores rules and terms, and identify the ones we can readily work with and the other ones where we would have a major legal problem. Would you like to drive this? [...] I support that proposal, Charles ! When we discussed this last year, I researched a bit and found the following article from the FSF: http://www.fsf.org/news/2010-05-app-store-compliance The article's summary: An iPhone port of GNU Go is currently being distributed through Apple's App Store. However, this distribution is not in compliance with the GNU GPL. The primary problem is that Apple imposes numerous legal restrictions on use and distribution of GNU Go through the iTunes Store Terms of Service, which is forbidden by section 6 of GPLv2. So today we have written to Apple and asked them to come into compliance. We would be happy to see Apple distribute these programs under the GPL's terms, but unfortunately, it seems much more likely that they'll simply make the problem go away by removing GNU Go from the App Store. I think the above refers to the iOS App Store, but I do not know if the relevant terms are any different for the Mac App Store. (I think it predates the existence of the Mac App Store.) The other difference is that the article refers to the GPL and not specifically the LGPL license. I will follow up further and let you know what I discover. Personally I think that conclusion is debatable. While Apple was the channel, the actual distribution was done by whoever put the software into the channel and it's not obvious to me that the situation is any different to, say, buying a PC with Linux on it from a members only retailer like CostCo. As long as the offer of source was made, I suspect an equally valid case could be constructed that there's no coming into compliance to be done. Not that I am a lawyer, of course :-) Just saying that I suspect the action in that link was motivated more by politics than by legal certainty... S. -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to marketing+h...@global.libreoffice.org Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/marketing/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-marketing] AppStore
Hello Tom, Le Sat, 25 Jun 2011 12:49:32 +0100 (BST), Tom Davies tomdavie...@yahoo.co.uk a écrit : Hi :) I am much more interested in hearing if there is anything the marketing team could do to increase the chance of getting LibreOffice into Apple's Store and perhaps other stores? There is nothing stopping us discussing anything about Steam's alleged request so that we can be ready if there is any validity to it. Are there other on-line stores for apps? Does anyone have contacts they could use to help get LO out there and if so then do they need help with that, perhaps from Italo or people? Do we mind about people making a profit from selling LibreOffice if part of the profit is given to TDF? It's allowed in the LGPL as long as it's not the software itself that is sold. That makes it easy for Dvds and Cds but with on-line sales the issue becomes a lot less clear. There was quite a lengthy discussion on the discuss list months ago about the same topic. Many things were written. I think that what would be really helpful would be if someone were to review the various app stores rules and terms, and identify the ones we can readily work with and the other ones where we would have a major legal problem. Would you like to drive this? Also, let's remember that LibreOffice has various parts of code licensed under three licenses: - LGPL v3 - LGPL v3 + - MPL (Mozilla public license). Hope this helps, Charles. Regards from Tom :) -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to marketing+h...@global.libreoffice.org Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/marketing/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
Re: [libreoffice-marketing] AppStore
Hi, Charles-H. Schulz wrote (25-06-11 14:52) There was quite a lengthy discussion on the discuss list months ago about the same topic. Many things were written. I think that what would be really helpful would be if someone were to review the various app stores rules and terms, and identify the ones we can readily work with and the other ones where we would have a major legal problem. Would you like to drive this? [...] I support that proposal, Charles ! Regards, -- - Cor - http://nl.libreoffice.org -- Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to marketing+h...@global.libreoffice.org Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/marketing/ All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted
