Comments on: Latest Wins for OpenDocument Format http://techrights.org/2009/09/12/wins-for-odf-workshop-lotus/ Free Software Sentry – watching and reporting maneuvers of those threatened by software freedom Fri, 25 Nov 2016 09:41:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.14 By: Roy Schestowitz http://techrights.org/2009/09/12/wins-for-odf-workshop-lotus/comment-page-1/#comment-73413 Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:41:16 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/?p=18130#comment-73413 IBM’s attitude towards software patents is another topic worth debating.

]]> By: JohnD http://techrights.org/2009/09/12/wins-for-odf-workshop-lotus/comment-page-1/#comment-73412 Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:37:58 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/?p=18130#comment-73412 Roy what world do you live on?
IBM does not control Eclipse or OO. Take those two things away and there is no product.
Using your rationale – if I create a custom tool bar for OO and don’t tell anyone how I did it – OO has just become my proprietary software.
All the tools they used to create the UI are public domain. Anyone who has a desire could go out and duplicate what they’ve done.
There may be a few things they don’t want to release because they are covered by preexisting patents for Notes – Notes has been around a long time. Not putting those things in the public domain would actually protect end users – not screw them over.

]]> By: Roy Schestowitz http://techrights.org/2009/09/12/wins-for-odf-workshop-lotus/comment-page-1/#comment-73411 Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:21:53 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/?p=18130#comment-73411

The only pieces “missing” are the things they did to integrate OO and Eclipse to provide an interface that’s consistent with other products that are proprietary.

So it’s not Free software. IBM still controls it.

The only thing IBM has exclusivity to is the name and possible the UI – this hardly makes Symphony a proprietary product.

Saying “hardly makes Symphony a proprietary product” is like saying “this lady is hardly pregnant.”

]]> By: JohnD http://techrights.org/2009/09/12/wins-for-odf-workshop-lotus/comment-page-1/#comment-73410 Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:14:51 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/?p=18130#comment-73410 No it isn’t.
All the code that makes the product works is available to anyone via OO or Eclipse. The only pieces “missing” are the things they did to integrate OO and Eclipse to provide an interface that’s consistent with other products that are proprietary.
End users are not being charged for the product.
IBM has not included anything into the product that would subject end users to patent attacks.
You have cited definitions in the past:
1 : one that possesses, owns, or holds exclusive right to something; specifically : proprietor 1
2 : something that is used, produced, or marketed under exclusive legal right of the inventor or maker; specifically : a drug (as a patent medicine) that is protected by secrecy, patent, or copyright against free competition as to name, product, composition, or process of manufacture
3 : a business secretly owned by and run as a cover for an intelligence organization
Item 2 is the most applicable in this case. The only thing IBM has exclusivity to is the name and possible the UI – this hardly makes Symphony a proprietary product.

]]> By: Roy Schestowitz http://techrights.org/2009/09/12/wins-for-odf-workshop-lotus/comment-page-1/#comment-73408 Sat, 12 Sep 2009 17:58:19 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/?p=18130#comment-73408 The code situation is more complicated than you make it seem.

]]> By: JohnD http://techrights.org/2009/09/12/wins-for-odf-workshop-lotus/comment-page-1/#comment-73406 Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:15:34 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/?p=18130#comment-73406 I’d also like to know how IBM is “exploiting” people when they aren’t charging for the product and they are using ODF instead of a proprietary format.
They took two FOSS products and integrated them in order to provide a consistent interface with some of their other products which are proprietary. Lotus Notes 8.x and Symphony use the same eclipse based client that’s all. Just because they aren’t telling you exactly how they did it, doesn’t make the product proprietary. They have done nothing to alter the functionality of Eclipse or OO. All they have done is change the packaging, not the product. The user community is not being short changed in any way.
This idea gets to be even more of a stretch when you factor in the fact the IBM started Eclipse and helped move it into the FOSS community. Not to mention IBMs continued support of the Eclipse project.

]]> By: JohnD http://techrights.org/2009/09/12/wins-for-odf-workshop-lotus/comment-page-1/#comment-73405 Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:01:42 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/?p=18130#comment-73405 Download OO and eclipse – that’s all you need.

]]> By: JohnD http://techrights.org/2009/09/12/wins-for-odf-workshop-lotus/comment-page-1/#comment-73404 Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:47:19 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/?p=18130#comment-73404 Well you need to find some other people to talk to because they’ve obviously given you inaccurate information.
Here’s a link that explains what they’ve done:
http://symphony.lotus.com/software/lotus/symphony/developers.nsf/home#1
Want the source code? Download OO and Eclipse and you have it. The only “thing” that might be close to proprietary is the UI. The only reason they changed the UI is to provide a consistent interface for the end user.
If you take the time to read the literature they are also marketing it as an alternative to proprietary options like M$.
How do I know all this you ask? Because I’m a PCLP 5&6, and I sell and support Lotus products and work with IBM business partners.

]]> By: Roy Schestowitz http://techrights.org/2009/09/12/wins-for-odf-workshop-lotus/comment-page-1/#comment-73403 Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:11:27 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/?p=18130#comment-73403 Where can I download the source code of Lotus Symphony?

I’ve already asked some people in IBM about this and it is not Free software. IBM exploits people’s inability to discern gratis from libre.

]]> By: JohnD http://techrights.org/2009/09/12/wins-for-odf-workshop-lotus/comment-page-1/#comment-73402 Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:54:59 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/?p=18130#comment-73402 Lotus Symphony is not proprietary.
They are using an old product name for continuity only. Symphony is based on OO with some minor changes to allow the applications to run as tabs within an Eclipse based client.
The suite is free for everyone.
IBM has stated that they will integrate things from previous apps like 1-2-3 into Symphony and make those features available to the community.

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