Joomla, joomla, extensions, templates, garden, 3rd party developers

Welcome!
Written by Administrator   
Monday, 16 July 2007

This site was created after reading "Another case of the Stupids" next day it was posted. It came out of a strong inner need to make things right.

Last week we spent on digging out as many answers as possible, and doublecheck them with lawyers. We will hopefully be able to share them by the end of the week.

The aim of this place is to provide undeformed information about licensing problem that is now also a problem for Joomla!.

We will provide general answers to most of the common questions and hopefully clear as many things that were clouded as possible

For those who came here by accident: There is a great open source project called Joomla! which is now in a serious debate about GPL compliance. Many bad thins happend including black PR, slow and unclear reaction and even calling names. It is hopefully turning in a good direction and we want to help it to stay this way.

Welcome! look around and come back soon.

The following is a voice in the discussion on provocative article named before. This response is emotional, but without this emotion this site wouldn't exist.
Last Updated ( Friday, 27 July 2007 )
 
OpenSourceMatters
Written by Roman Blanty   
Sunday, 15 July 2007

Does anyone remember how this project was called before it was called Joomla! ?

Yes, it was OpenSourceMatters.

So, trying to figure out what do (at least some) 3rd party developers of proprietary extensions want I came to conclusion that they would like to turn general idea behind this project to something else.

They are following the path of some very intelligent stock mammals pictured in Orwell's 'Animal Farm' . They would like to add something to this clear statement, which is also a rule protected by the GPL.


What would they like to add? Something like "...but proprietary 3rd party developers matter more".

Well, you don't!

The idea reaches further than you, me or even The Joomla! project itself.

I don't expect you to understand this. I merely ask you to stop your misinformation. I do admit that you use some smart and cunning techniques to achieve your goals. Beware not to kill your host in the process. Joomla! Community already suffers from your deeds and who knows how it will reflect on Joomla!'s future.

I believe that most of you still have given more to the project than inflicted harm. Back out.

It is said repeatedly that GPL will put you out of business, destroy lifehoods and so on. You seem to blame Core, Foundation, lawyers and community for this. You are business man so tell me how sane is businessman which doesn't know environment his doing  business in. How respectful employer, father man can he be?! Joomla! license was GPL from the start . It did not change a bit whether Core made recent statement or not. You did know that. You couldn't miss it!
GPL is what put you in business in first place. Joomla! being open source is on of major reasons of its popularity. And it is Joomla! popularity that keeps your business spinning.

Last question: Would you be where you are if there were no free sources of knowledge and no open source to study and develop? Taking it away is not cutting of branches below you so nobody can reach you. It is cutting of the tree you are sitting on!

This article was corrected after Eric Kendrick's note. In fervor of writng it I wrongly referenced to 1984 not to 'Animal Farm' which I had on mind. Excuse me for confusion this might bring.
Agreeing to that I have made a mistake which Eric spotted can't be understood as agreeing to the rest of his message.
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 18 July 2007 )