Hi :)
The users list got an unusual email from a fairly vast organisation
that is
primarily a vast distribution network.
A couple of people pointed them towards the marketing list but i
think there are
other issues that might require a dialogue with the Steering
Committee and/or
BoD and/or the Advisory Board.
I have included my verbose response to their initial enquiry but
please skip
that and focus on their request at the bottom of this email. Two
other people
responded before me with RTFM type answers pointing them towards
Marketing. I
think we need to be more prepared next time but it's not really
something that
is easy to prepare for as it is unlikely to happen again.
Regards from
Tom :)
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Tom Davies<tomdavies04@yahoo.co.uk>
To: users@global.libreoffice.org
Cc: markr@valvesoftware.com
Sent: Fri, 24 June, 2011 10:51:58
Subject: Re: [libreoffice-users] Steam Distribution Inquiry
Hi :)
I think the main people you need to contact are the Steering Committee
steering-discuss+subscribe@documentfoundation.org
General discussions about other aspects of TDF are on a separate list
discuss+subscribe@documentfoundation.org
but the steering discuss is the more useful list for your needs i
think.
LibreOffice is released under copyleft agreements so you don't
really need to
even ask permission to copy and distribute. There are a few caveats
of course.
The original source code must be made available to anyone that wants
it.
If you want to mirror the TDF download sites then this list might be
helpful for
a quick result
mirrors+subscribe@documentfoundation.org
Further Detail
If you make a profit then it would be best to give a percentage or
just an
amount of that back to TDF. Steam personel can modify the code but
licensing
and maintaining the result is tricky unless you choose the same
copyleft
agreement as the original. Many organisations put resources (time,
personnel,
whatever) into TDF to develop code, documentation, translations and
so on to get
some control over which issues are addressed in those areas. This
will happen
more although the individual volunteers base also grows rapidly and
everyone is
treated equally within TDF as it is a meritocracy. Some
organisations such as
Google, RedHat, Novell and so on have put people on an advisory
board that
advises the Steering Committee and the Board of Directors. Steam
could become a
full member at that level but it costs a bit and i am not sure about
the
details. Again that is an issue for the Steering Committee
steering-discuss+subscribe@documentfoundation.org
Side Issues
If you want to create Dvds to distribute then there are various
'localised'
versions available. I think the North American, German, Spanish,
possibly
Brazilian 'localised' versions are already available but you could
have people
join in to help develop those or others. The marketting list is
useful for that
and things such as the international magazine (developed originally
by the
Brazilian Team)
marketing+subscribe@global.libreoffice.org
As other people have already stated that might be a good place to
deal with most
of the issues you asked about. Personally i think Steam are large
enough to
have issues that the Steering Committee might be more helpful with
steering-discuss+subscribe@documentfoundation.org
Perhaps join the websites list to find out about whether TDF have
torrenting
set-up.
website+subscribe@global.libreoffice.org
If you would like to develop a UI, perhaps as an "add-on" (we call them
"Extensions") then the Design Team might be interested and might be
keen to help
with the work
design+subscribe@global.libreoffice.org
As you can see there are a lot of groups working at different
aspects and it
just depends how quickly you want Steam to integrate into those
areas to
maximise their usefulness to Steam. For a fast result i would talk
to the
Mirrors group and then also join the Steering group list for
discussions about
expanding the potential for Steam.
Good luck and regards from
Tom Davies
________________________________
From: Mark Richardson<markr@valvesoftware.com>
To: "users@global.libreoffice.org"<users@global.libreoffice.org>
Sent: Thu, 23 June, 2011 18:27:13
Subject: [libreoffice-users] Steam Distribution Inquiry
Hello,
We would like to discuss distributing LibreOffice through our
worldwide digital
platform, Steam. We are a leader in video game distribution and
service. We
are launching an application store in October and would like to include
LibreOffice. You can find us at Steampowered.com.
We are a worldwide distributor with 30 million customers, in 22
languages, 21
localized payment forms and 3 currencies.
Let me know when you might have a chance to discuss.
Sincerely,
Mark Richardson
markr@valvesoftware.com<mailto:markr@valvesoftware.com>
425-952-2785
--