GNOME Foundation Endorses MS OpenXML November 25, 2007
Posted by rjdohnert in 1.trackback
While the title may sound like the GNOME Foundation may be moving to a Shared Source style of licensing its really not the case. While Russell Ossendryver may think that the GNOME Foundation helping with OpenXML may be a bad thing I for one applauded them if that was the case. This industry always has two sides to it and the fighting and evangalism never ends. GNOME vs KDE, UNIX vs Linux, Mac vs Windows, PC vs PowerPC it goes on and on.
I was thinking very higly of the GNOME Foundation because it had appeared that they were going to put the evangelism and zealotry aside and contribute but alas it appears not to be so.
Contribution to the process is a very good thing. It levels off the playing field and actually helps to make the technology better. If you arent contributing and just sitting there pointing fingers and not devulging any kind of technical expertise to help overcome the hurdles why bother. Do they think they are the high priests, so self righteous that they think they are the saviors of the IT world? So a message to the GNOME Foundation stop wasting everyones time with petty games.
Alright now.
If you look at ECMA TC45 there are many companies involved in the process. Apple, Toshiba, NextPage and even non-it companies like BP, the Library of Congress (does this mean the government is selling out?) The GNOME Foundation is one of many involved in the process. The adoption of OpenXML as a standard will in no way shape or form harm ODF, it just levels the playing field. OpenXML will be used, ODF will be used neither format will die off. If the GNOME Foundation decides to help overcome the hurdles than they are to be applauded and thanked. If they dont want to be involved and if they arent contributing like their open letter suggests then its time for them to get off the bus.
Um, huh?
a) The GNOME Foundation hasn’t endorsed or contributed to OOXML becoming a standard, and the statement clearly says so.
b) I’m not sure what your question about “contributing” refers to, but GNOME developers are obviously contributing to Free Software and open standards all over the place.
If you’re referring to the GNOME Foundation “contributing to OOXML”, then read the statement again. Jody is ensuring it is properly documented, not contributing to the standard. Microsoft delivered the ECMA standard “as is”.
Meanwhile, of *COURSE* GNOME is not moving to a “Shared Source” style of licensing. That’s crazy talk. We’re LGPL/GPL through and through — Software Freedom is a fundamental goal of the GNOME Foundation.
It might be worth retracting some of your comments, because they clearly do not do anything positive for Software Freedom.
– Jeff Waugh, GNOME Foundation
Your second comment was removed due to the fact it is extremely untrue.
Now lets answer your claims:
” a) The GNOME Foundation hasn’t endorsed or contributed to OOXML becoming a standard, and the statement clearly says so.”
If you arent contributing or offering anything useful you definately should be removed from the process. If you have nothing to offer go away. Help overcome the hurdles, help with the technological shortcoming and thats whats considered positively contributing. As it stands right now, the GNOME Foundation merely looks like its trying to get attention and obviously doesnt care.
” b) I’m not sure what your question about “contributing” refers to, but GNOME developers are obviously contributing to Free Software and open standards all over the place.”
If that was the case then you would be assisting and contributing to the OpenXML format. Its an open standard. You contribute to Free Software, wonderful.
” If you’re referring to the GNOME Foundation “contributing to OOXML”, then read the statement again. Jody is ensuring it is properly documented, not contributing to the standard. Microsoft delivered the ECMA standard “as is”
And thats a contribution…How. There are several organizations ensuring documentation, if Jody is not going to offer anything useful, again, the GNOME foundation needs to be removed from the process.
” Meanwhile, of *COURSE* GNOME is not moving to a “Shared Source” style of licensing. That’s crazy talk. We’re LGPL/GPL through and through — Software Freedom is a fundamental goal of the GNOME Foundation.”
That was a attempt at humor, what part of ” really not the case.” didnt you understand.
” It might be worth retracting some of your comments, because they clearly do not do anything positive for Software Freedom.”
what comment didnt do anything positive for software freedom?