Ruth, I disagree with you on point number 2. Ofbiz.org is not just a domain name. The name OFBiz is a product, and a brand-able, trademark-able product at that. So, while the domain may not have as much brand value as apple.com, microsoft.com, or, from an open source perspective, wordpress.com; the same principle applies. So even though WordPress is widely distributed and thousands of people make boatloads of money selling themes, customizations, implementation, etc. I think you would have a very tough trying to get anyone to sell you the wordpress.org or the wordpress.com domain.
The license for OFBiz resides with Apache, so the domain should reside with them as well. The brand name, OFBiz, is intellectual property and any derivatives of that name including ofbiz.org, ofbiz.net, ofbiz.com, etc are part of the intellectual property. As far as your commercial success goes, I think you should make money. Lots and lots of money. If you spend time and effort writing good books that provide valuable information, what's wrong with making a profit on them? Most, if not all of the information contained in the 50-60 books I own on design and development could have been found combing through resources on the internet, but I bought them because the were well written, information books. I know every book that Zeldman wrote on CSS, but I don't think he ever tried to register css.org -- he can't, because it's owned by The Colorado Springs School luck bastards ;-) Ryan Foster HotWax Media 801.671.0769 [email protected] On Apr 15, 2010, at 9:47 AM, Ruth Hoffman wrote: > Hi Jacques: > > Wow, I'm flattered that you would compare myOFBiz.com to Java! Or at least > juxtapose it with the "big boys" :-) > > Just to clear the air: > > 1) myOFBiz.com is not an organization, company or any other commercially > viable entity. It is a domain name and a server running an instance of OFBiz. > > 2) Like myOFBiz.com, ofbiz.org is only a domain name. Both have no > intellectual property or other proprietary resources that could be sold. The > only thing that can be sold, in either case, is the domain name. Which, I > have to admit for ofbiz.org has brand recognition - at least today. That is > why I'm interested in it. . > > 3) I fully understand your position. IMO the ofbiz.org domain is not a > sacred icon. In fact, as each day goes by, it has less and less meaning. If > project committers and other OFBiz devotees wish to worship at the ofbiz.org > shrine, then who am I to ask "why?". It is you belief that ofbiz.org has > value. I'm very progressive in at least this regard: I believe, "to each > his/her own". > > On a related note, do you feel that there is something wrong with commercial > success? What I mean is, why can't OFBiz enjoy some "commercial" success? Or > maybe I should ask, what do you mean by "commercial"? > > Kind Regards, > Ruth > > Thanks > > Jacques Le Roux wrote: >> Hi Ruth, >> >> I'm sorry to say that I agree with Jeroen. I'd never have made a proposition >> like yours: for me ofbiz.org is clearly and should >> remain a community name. >> >> It's not directed against you, because I believe in your faith in OFBiz. But >> who knows what will happen with your effort? It's hard >> to trust people, even when you have a good feeling, but it's even harder to >> trust organizations. Look for instance at what happened >> recently to Java now owned by Oracle (and BTW according to Tiobe recenlty >> lost its 1st place as a language >> http://www.tiobe.com/index.php/content/paperinfo/tpci/index.html), MySql may >> also suffer for the same reason, and we know the IT >> history is cluttered of such cases. >> >> Also I was already dissapointed by the Opentaps experience. Even if Si has >> been almost clear about his intentions (not sure at which >> point though) see "How to make money from open source" at >> http://www.opensourcestrategies.org/. >> >> My 2 cts >> >> Jacques >> >> From: "Ruth Hoffman" <[email protected]> >>> Hi Jeroen: >>> If this was a directed to me, then: >>> >>> 1) My enterprise is not a money making, "commercial" concern. My mission >>> has always been to provide high quality affordable >>> learning resources to the community at large. My view of the "community" is >>> anyone looking for OFBiz materials, not just project >>> committers. The only way I can possible afford to do that is charge a >>> nominal fee for some of these books. And, believe me, I'm >>> not making any money on this endeavor. As I've said before, it is a labor >>> of love. >>> >>> 2) Want to donate money to help the cause? Buy some of my books. You will >>> help pay for the server and hosting, quality content >>> creation tools, professional editors, SME's time in reviewing >>> materials...and I could go on. >>> >>> Regards, >>> Ruth >>> ---------------------------------------------------- >>> Find me on the web at http://www.myofbiz.com or Google keyword "myofbiz" >>> [email protected] >>> >>> Jeroen van der Wal wrote: >>>> I don't like to see ofbiz.org to be used for commercial purposes. If >>>> the subscription cost is a problem I'm willing to make a donation in >>>> order to keep the domain within the community. >>>> >>> >> >> >>
