Let's suppose someone have developed a module (suppose that the module
> is fairly complicated, not just a redesign of some forms or addition
> of couple of fields to an existing modules) for OpenERP, which is
> licensed under GPL(2), is he an OpenERP's (as I understand that this
> trademark is also licensed under GPL2) partner or no?
No. The partner program is a service contract between a partner and a
company. This contract provides services like: support, visibility on
website, ...
If you just publish a module, this does not provides you all our
services for free.
The next confusing thing, in the Partner's program description files
> is mentioned that "partner" who writes an article or publishes a module
> is more valuable than who buys a Gold package. There is also mentioned
> that for publishing a module there is "reward" in activity units
> (300/SLOC ??!!), are they awarded to the partners that have been paid
> at least the 1950EUR or any other one?
Of course, the partner contract only applies to those that took the
partner contract. The 1950 EUR are a fixed fee, with limited services
(in limitted hours). If you need more services (trainings, support, ...)
you can purchase or contribute. So publishing modules allows partners
(and not everyone in the world) to get services without having to pay more.
If we look at the above, it would be normal that a company that
> develops modules or get involved in a project, gets listed as a partner
> in "OpenERP.com".
Of course not. The partner program is a service contract. We will not
offer you our services for free only because you published a module :)
Do you work for free ? Not me.
(but we offer all we do for free, it's already very good, you can not
ask more :)
If not, it means that Tiny sprl is selling trademark that is licensed
> under GPL2, or am I getting something wrong. So it means that one can
> write that he is a partner of OpenERP because he is developing a GPL'd
> modules consequently improving GPL'd software?
The Tiny own the Open ERP trademark (which is different from the
copyright). It means, we can protect the product to bad usage or
communication.
Like any authors of Open Source software, we also have the copyright on
the code.
But we don't sell this. We just sell our services. All code we do is
always open source and free to use, distribute, and sell.
But you can not announce you are a partner if you are not. (we can
protect the mark). It's important to keep working and announcing quality
partners.
What is being bought and sold under this program? Visibility on
> community's website, training, leads? Is amount of visibility
> somewhere defined?
Yes. Details on the partner program on this website, see the partner
section.
As to visibility, as I understand that only partners get opportunity
> to announce their activity on Planet (to be more specific it's
> being gathered from their websites), or anybody else can "post".
The planet is our own communication channel. You can post everything
you want on the forum.
If only "paid partners" can post and get mentioned to the website
> why then improve the whole software and provide modules for free?
Lots of reason:
* The author of the module is always promoted if he publishes it. No
matter if he is a partner or not.
* By publishing a module, we will validate it and integrate it if he
is good enough. It means:
** Maintenance for free (we do it)
** Others will contribute and improve your work and build others modules
based on it.
* Near to each modules, you see who is the author, with contacts.
One part of process of getting familiar with OpenERP, for me, included
> investigation the world for what is happening around the world
> regarding OpenERP. There are numerous "paid partners" that gets mentioned
> on this site, but only few of them have released at least a single
module.
That's why we are creating insentive for publishing modules. (like our
points system, explained in the website).
There are even more "non partners" that are providing services to
> clients and selling modules on their own, which are proprietary.
There are more or less complete translations on languages that are
> not available to the general public, so are the modules and
localizations.
Why publish modules under GPL2 on the OpenERP.com website when most people
> does not?
Because if you don't:
* You have to maintain your module yourself, from version to version
* Your module will become deprecated after some months: someone will do
another module that will offer the same features but that is integrated.
This official module will probably grow much more faster than your own.
* You don't have visibility
Why post and contribute to wiki if there is visibility for the paid
> partner's, who by the most have done nothing to get this software
> more mature and open.
Just for information, most of Open ERP partners contributed a lot to
the software in different ways. It's false to say they didn't do
anything. They made lots of communication, they trained some of their
employees, they integrated
We can not announce as partners people we don't know. It's important to
keep a control of who are the biggest partners, who trained how many
employees, who contributed modules.
I really don't imagine a company offering quality services without being
a partner. Of course, you can.
But I know that a partner that have the support of the editor, that have
trained technical and functionnal employees and that work with us will
offer a better service. At least because, if they have problems, they
can ask us.
--
Fabien Pinckaers
CEO Tiny - OpenERP Editor
Chaussée de Namur 40
B-1367 Grand-Rosière
Belgium
Phone: +32.81.81.37.00
Fax: +32.81.73.35.01
Web: http://openerp.com
Great Achievements Start With Tiny Investments
-- Marty, 2005
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