Hi Ignacio and everyone, Names, Negotiations, ... I thought we won't have to deal with all that if we develop under open source/content :-). I think it is time to put everything out in the open since we don't appear to be able to sort things without some external help. After Minoru's SPRIRT was announced, Ignacio told me that he is worried that they will create a proprietary Projects Directory that will siphon readers away from his LinuxMedNews Projects List. I told him that his project list does not contain enough information and that if SPIRIT can provide a better service, then they deserve the readership. Since SPIRIT provides not much information publicly about how they will interface with LinuxMedNews, I can understand Ignacio's concerns. Being a man of action (and opportunity), I suggested to Ignacio that he can work hard to develop a better Project List that, in particular, should have facility for maintaining user feedback. In that way, we can all enjoy a better system regardless of what SPIRIT ultimately delivers. (I also thought it is possible to do better than what SPIRIT can deliver by being very focused on a narrow application and using OIO technology). I sent him a copy of source code for the OIO Library and told him that he could customize one of its modules to handle Projects listing rather than starting from scratch. Unfortunately, he was unable to do much with it. After realizing that, I began working on it myself and was able to go live several weeks ago. After that milestone, Ignacio indicated his willingness to syndicate the content - but, he was not able to modify his site to frame the content after several days. I offered to help him with modifying LinuxMedNews to do the framing properly and he accepted. LinuxMedNews was modified and it became the first site that began carrying content from the OIO Library as of 4 days ago. Now that everything is working, Ignacio is worried about the name. I am calling it the OIO Library and he would like me to change that name to LinuxMedNews project list. I told him that he can put whatever label his wants on the frames that surround the OIO Library content but the feed itself will clearly state who is running the database and editorial services, i.e. the OIO Library. In my view, while this is a small disagreement, it highlights the larger issues of content and rights to content. It appears that even having a open content license does not resolve all the issues. I still hope that the OIO Library can provide a service to LinuxMedNews (and maybe SPIRIT??? and other sites) through a syndication arrangement. Rather than needing to enter my project information and review of other people's projects into two directories (LinuxMedNews and SPRIRT), it makes lots of sense (as a user and project leader) to just do it in one place and know that the content will appear at several news and portal sites! What the OIO Library brings to the field is not just projects directory - but even more importantly the User Reviews! Others may do User Reviews through a portal - the OIO Library provides User Reviews through a free syndicated service! This is definitely not "your father/mother's" Projects list. I thought offering a free service plus using an open content license would do the trick. Ignacio to sell banner ads through the frames that surround OIO Library content and maybe SPIRIT and others will do the same - All because the OIO Library works great (I am biased) and it is free, open content, and doesn't even come with a pop-up ad. :-) But - names are important too. Any suggestions and guidance from the group? I have greatly benefited from the wisdom of many people on this list and have enjoyed a productive association with Ignacio. I am hopeful that we can extend our collaborative relationships through this discussion. (for those who are interested, my original reply to Ignacio's inquiry regarding the name of OIO Library was copied to the open-outcomes-editors mailing list - which is a private list for the editors of the OIO Library). Best regards, Andrew --- Andrew P. Ho, M.D. OIO: Open Infrastructure for Outcomes www.TxOutcome.Org Assistant Clinical Professor Department of Psychiatry, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center University of California, Los Angeles On Wed, 28 Mar 2001 07:54:51 Ignacio Valdes wrote: >One word: Oops. This is going to be a bad hair day. -- IV > >Ignacio Valdes wrote: > >> Please don't post these negotiations to the mailing list. Andrew, this is truly >fundamental, if we >> can't agree on this then I will have to find another vehicle that will accomodate >me however long >> this will take. This will only delay me, but there is no way that I can agree to >your terms. I fail >> to understand why you are insisting on this. Can you tell me in concrete terms how >this would not >> cause confusion and not siphon readers from my site by titling this the OIO Library >only? It seems >> pretty clear-cut to me that a Big Mac is a Big Mac, not a Ms. Baird's Big Mac even >though they might >> make the buns. Join 18 million Eudora users by signing up for a free Eudora Web-Mail account at http://www.eudoramail.com
