Re: [libreoffice-marketing] Fw: [libreoffice-users] Steam Distribution Inquiry

Hi :)
I'm increasingly suspicious about it being a hoax.  Top people in Steam would 
surely be aware of how public mailing lists can be?  Wouldn't they want to keep 
an expansion of their business a 'little' more secret?  Finding personal contact 
details for specific Steering Committee members is easier in someone's first 
visit to our websites than joining the mailing list.  Lets just wait&see what 
Charles Shulz (& possibly Italo) reports back to steering-discuss.  

Regards from
Tom :)





________________________________
From: Marc Paré <marc@marcpare.com>
To: marketing@global.libreoffice.org
Sent: Fri, 24 June, 2011 22:55:48
Subject: Re: [libreoffice-marketing] Fw: [libreoffice-users] Steam Distribution 
Inquiry

Le 2011-06-24 11:28, C. Olofson a écrit :
> Wow.
>
> A whole, new, worldwide distribution channel, predominantly for the Windows 
> platform.  It sounds intriguing.  A few issues come to mind based on my 
> (limited) experience w/ the current Steam client and Valve, in no particular 
> order:
>
>    * a mature, robust & widespread distribution channel
>    * a possible new channel for donation streams
>    * wonderful platform stats (http://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey)
>    * client license is problematic
>      (http://store.steampowered.com/subscriber_agreement/)
>    * client launch is intrusive (lose mouse & window focus)
>    * client updates are frequent and mildly intrusive (~2/month)
>    * client acts as licensing enforcer (and can be pretty draconian)
>    * support for both Windows & Mac OSX - planned support for Linux dropped
>
> Valve is one of the early SaaS pioneers and, like SalesForce, attempted to 
> cater to businesses.  They couldn't move past the gaming industry (until now) 
> though and it hasn't always been a pleasant ride.  For those who remember, there 
> was a time when a person could go to a store, purchase and install a 
> SteamPowered game but not be able to run the product unless the user had
>
>    * a working internet connection
>    * an account on Steam delivery/licensing servers
>
> This was done purely for considerations related to DRM/anti-piracy.
>
> I'm not trying to paint a completely bleak picture here but, for those who are 
> unfamiliar with the software gaming industry, it's important to keep in mind 
> that some of the (fully legal and ethical) tactics used by Valve for 
> distributing/licensing games will probably conflict with F/OSS licensing and 
> norms.  In short, the licensing terms for their planned app store (and its 
> "servicing client") will have to represent a departure from Valve's current 
> gaming-centric "enforcement" policies.
>
> There's a lot more I could address, if there's any interest.  Apart from the 
> concerns above, this represents a marvelous, marvelous opportunity.  It makes me 
> wonder whether we should be talking with other app stores (i.e. Apple?).
>
> Tom... good move passing this along.
>
> -Craig
>
>
> On 06/24/2011 06:31 AM, Benjamin Horst wrote:
> > This could be a great channel to spread LibreOffice! Please let us know what 
> > you hear back from Mark at Valve Software.
> >
> > -Ben
> >
> > On Jun 24, 2011, at 7:46 AM, Tom Davies wrote:
> >
> > > 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
> > >
> > >
> > > -- 
Hi Craig

I think we were at one point discussing having LibreOffice on the Apple 
AppStore, I am not sure what the outcome was with the discussion. Could someone 
check to see if LibreOffice is available on the AppStore? If it is not, we 
should put that up as one of our priority items on our marketing action list.

Re: Steam ... I have to concur with all that you have said, but, as you also 
mention, this is quite a great opportunity. It would not surprise me however, 
that the Steam people would want to sell LibreOffice for a certain amount. It 
will be nice to hear what the arrangement if any will have been made with Steam.

BTW ... I think the Steam request, although having appeared on different mailing 
lists, should really be taken up on the marketing list. (Someone had wondered 
what mailing list it should be discussed.)

Cheers

Marc

-- Marc Paré
http://www.parEntreprise.com


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