@fabien

I would like to make clear some understandings, please do not mess open-source 
with GPL.

I know lot of things that are open-sourced, but not licensed under GPL like 
license - it just state that there are uncompiled source code available 
accompanied.

GPL presumes both - the open-source and freedom of use and modification.

@gegard

My mistake, I did not realize that you would like to inquire about module. It 
was a bit misleading that you did not want to know of "features", but rather 
wanted to know of legal things first :), right?

We are working on 3 major ways:
1) localization and translation of existing modules;
2) tuning up things that we think are not right in basic setup;
3) building specialized modules;

About the major modules we have already developed:
1) IT Resource management (we have implemented in our company, but have no 
documentation);
2) Invoicing (despite some delays, we are considering this module stable and 
starting to use it right these days, but again have no documentation)

As the modules are pretty specific, vertical and are intended for skilled 
personnel, I see no possibility to start using them without detailed 
documentation or our implementation services right now.

Invoicing were not so stable to let external people using it, as we did some 
extra work on it for last half a month.

So if you would like to give those modules a try we will have setup of an 
online demo server next week. Contact me private to kasparsv[at]kndati.lv and I 
will give you access to it.

----------------
What about migration script - we had some confused customers who went 
suspicious when we tell - the product license is free, oh well almoast free... 
Then they start bothering if it will not end up at the greater TCO than 
proprietary soft. 

It is funny that  some (I suppose) several hundred SLOCS are so expensive for 
Tiny, so it is better to scare customers away from great free 
many-thousands-SLOC software, is'nt it so?

In principle you just have to buy partnership, or maintenance contract anyway. 
I have read partnership contract where it clearly states that partner agrees 
not to disclose purchased modules (shared funding) to even his customers, 
without buying additional "copies" from Tiny. So it is clear that you have to 
buy a license for every customer, right. Then where is the GPL spirit?

The partnership fee just rose significantly during last year, though I do not 
believe that we will receive leads from Latvia or consume credits in any other 
way, let it be services or anything else.

I assume that in free software environment there have to be freedom on buying 
services you actually need. And work on a win-win basis, as you state.

But in this case we work on the same field, presumably should cooperate (in 
essence - be partners) to promote GPL - free software. But in reality have 
situation where Axelor hides away connector modules for outlook/thunderbird, so 
in essence make it inaccessible and therefore proprietary. You are doing the 
same on shared funding projects and migration scripts, and hiding away 
community work.

I doubt that ordinary user would be able to make use of bazaar to download the 
module he desires. So why I should make it available on launchpad, where only 
your marketing people will benefit and create banners saying - we have this and 
that industry specific vertical modules.

You will not come to me and buy partnership if you would like to use our 
modules, right? You will not come and say, here is my client who wants your 
services on the implementation.

So that is why we are not decided yet, whether to post it to the Launchpad, or 
place them in our web page - freely available. As I do not see Axelor 
connectors there, and many other modules from so called partners.

I do not think that we are worse than they are - our code costs something too, 
and I assume more than several thousands (Partnership) of euros, for the reight 
not to distribute under GPL. Which, by the way, is not so small sum of money in 
other - non western European countries or USA, or small markets.

In essence - if we have no visibility, no right to use directly OpenERP brand 
and state that we are partners, although we are ready to contribute back code 
and promotion in our area - just like you did for the project, then why I 
should bother.

I place our modules in my place, provide visibility, and people will at least 
know who did what, who can provide services on the particular field.

The other way - there always will be projects that could not be done by one 
company solely and directly, whether it be Tiny or small like our one. Then 
there will be normal cooperation, in a win - win manner. Then partner will 
benefit proportionally to his involvement. And of coarse Tiny would benefit 
just because they were the founders, because there were always be customers 
willing to go for the services to the central partner (think of the big 
corps.). 

I do not know, there probably should be any partnership fee for companies that 
do not contribute code back to the community, but just selling services on 
other people's work, if they want to use brand or visibility on the site etc.

P.S. This my vision of doing things better, but I do not insist on that it is 
the best.

-sraps




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http://www.openobject.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=35045#35045

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