There is a bit to discuss about how "The entity should ensure they work on the AOO codebase using the ASF way" is workable or not. In particular, no such entity can direct the project at Apache or otherwise effectively govern it. More about that later.
There is another option, summarized below. One might also consider this as a reality check. That is, if that is not feasible, it may be that no other arrangement is. > -----Original Message----- > From: Suminda Dharmasena [mailto:sirinath19...@gmail.com] > Sent: Monday, July 11, 2016 00:23 > To: market...@openoffice.apache.org; dev@openoffice.apache.org > Subject: Independent Entity to Develop and Further AOO > > Hello, > > I am writing to see if the current AOO Dev team would like to create an > independent entity which can: > > - Do trainings > - Accept funds and have pay developers > - Write commercial books / online tutorials with sponsorship > > This can be used have paid developers working on the project. Maybe > initial > sponsorship can come from an organisation like Redhat, Pivotal or Micro > Focus if they are interested. Perhaps companies which used the code base > in > the past like IBM or Oracle. > > The entity should ensure they work on the AOO codebase using the ASF > way. > > Suminda [orcmid] AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH Another way to interact and support Apache OpenOffice in terms of collaborative contributions is as follows. 1. Establish a downstream producer, TeamX (for example), that provides releases of derivative software based on Apache OpenOffice. 2. Assumption #1: The Apache License Version 2 (ALv2) is honored in the use of Apache OpenOffice source code. Apache trademark requirements are satisfied in any use as part of the branding of the downstream product. 3. Assumption #2: New code and modifications to the TeamX derivative are also under ALv2. 4. Open-Source Good Citizenship: The ALv2-licensed fixes and repairs are contributed back upstream to Apache OpenOffice. Components from other sources would, of course, be contributed upstream to those sources. Contributions and joint concerns might lead to use of the OpenOffice bugzilla as a coordination point. 5. Opportunity. The business model, organization, and governance of TeamX is not of concern to the ASF. 6. Opportunity. The Apache Software Foundation requirements beyond honoring of the ALv2 that govern Apache projects serving the public interest do not apply, although TeamX could operate in a harmonious manner. 7. Opportunity. So long as there is clear separation and no comingling in source-code files, TeamX is not constrained from also using code or components from other projects, such as those using licenses such as the MPL or, under appropriate conditions, something like LGPL2, with appropriate honoring of those licenses too. However, to avoid tainting of upstream source-code contributions back to Apache OpenOffice, there must be careful management of IP and reliance on code (source or binary) under non-ALv2 license (and ALv2 code which is not the original work of TeamX). 8. Opportunity. Depending on how close the operation of TeamX releases remains to that of Apache OpenOffice, especially at the beginning, one can rely on the Apache OpenOffice mediawiki and openoffice.org site in large measure, so long as there is no confusion. Also, the Apache OpenOffice Community Forums are more ecumenical in how they can provide forum support to OpenOffice.org-lineage ODF-supporting products. How confusion is avoided would need to be worked out, but this provides TeamX time to develop its own support as that ends up having unique requirements. This is not unlike how downstream organizations rely on Apache OpenOffice for specialized distributions (e.g., FreeBSD, OS/2, and Solaris). There are other Apache projects where the downstream ecosystem is quite robust and the key Apache project deliverable is the source-code release and not so much any end-user binary distributions. - Dennis --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: dev-unsubscr...@openoffice.apache.org For additional commands, e-mail: dev-h...@openoffice.apache.org
