Simon Phipps wrote: > > On Sep 4, 2006, at 04:47, KAMI wrote: > >>> Just to clarify the templates question. These converted SO 5.2 >>> templates were first included in the 1.1 series CD I created. I >>> have tried several times to contact the owners of the copyright >>> (they are actually a joint copyright, Sun and Template Zone). I >>> have sent several emails to TZ (who IIRC actually either bought the >>> original owner or was bought by another company), and have never >>> received even an acknowledgement that my request to use the >>> templates had been received. This is still the situation, even >>> after several years. >>> >> I have same experience. I sent at least a dozen letter to TZ, >> DigitalRiver, Sun and OOo staff. Alex was >> so kind to wrote this information when I asked. So do have idea >> about license of TemplateZone's templates? > > Who did you write to at Sun (tell me privately)? > > Note that one of the very few things that Sun tries to use to > differentiate StarOffice is the templates, so if they are still the > basis of content in StarOffice permission is unlikely to be granted. > We have to have some way to pay all those people in Hamburg, after > all... > > S. > And every penny deserved if I may be so bold to add.
For mine it is fair enough for Sun to retain the copyright on those SO5.2 templates and for mine to limit their use to SO, for the reasons stated above if nothing else (the reasoning may be flawed, but I'll get to that in a moment). By the same token it should be easier for the community to have templates and art work submitted to the Build. Obviously, as Kami has demonstrated, the stuff is out there. As has been pointed out in the past, however, it is difficult, demonstrably so, when one looks at the lack of templates and clipart that ships with OOo. Back to the differentiation between OOo and SO. I market to corporates, to these clients there are only 2 differentiations worth considering: 1: VBA conversion and 2: Corporate level support. Templates don't enter the picture because they have their own. In fact this has become a selling point for OOo . I get custom builds created with a custom splash screen and the clients own templates complete with letterheads etc already in the build. Then I train their endusers, like Sun I have to pay that person in Ham.... actually Tokoroa, NZ :) However at the end of the day if the client wants corporate level day to day telephone support I point them to Sun. In conclusion: Templates, or the quantity of same as a differentiator between SO and OOo are a non issue at corporate level. Retail clients maybe swayed, but if it is such a big deal people will buy MS. Cheers GL -- "GET LEGAL - GET OPENOFFICE.ORG" http://why.openoffice.org ISO 26300 compliant Graham Lauder, OpenOffice.org MarCon (Marketing Contact) NZ http://marketing.openoffice.org/contacts.html INGOTs Assessor Trainer (International Grades in Office Technologies) www.theingots.org.nz --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
