On Sun, Aug 26, 2012 at 7:26 AM, Branko Čibej <br...@apache.org> wrote:
> On 26.08.2012 13:15, Tim Williams wrote:
>> Marvin gave the link earlier in this thread. 4th para is the relevant bit.
>>
>> http://www.apache.org/dev/release.html#what
>
> The relevant part is in the last paragraph. However, that says
> "convenience" and defines version numbering requirements, but it does
> /not/ state that the binaries are not sanctioned by the ASF and are not
> part of the official ASF release.
>

And again, as I and others have stated, this is merely a label with no
content to it.  What does "sanctioned (or not sanctioned) by the ASF
mean"?  Anything specific?

Remember, the binaries (or "Object form" in the words of the license)
are also covered by the Apache License 2.0, and sections 7 and 8 of
that license already say that it is provided as-is, and disclaims
warranty and liability.

In other words, the same license and the same disclaimers apply to
source (which we seem to agree is part of the ASF release) and to
binaries.

So again I urge the IPMC to mind the seductive appeal of mere labeling
and instead consider whether there is any actual constraints on
activities and behavior for Podlings (or TLP's for that matter) based
on whether something is a source or binary, e.g.:

1) Is there some required (or forbidden) way in which a distinction
must be acknowledged in a release vote?

2) Is there some required (or forbidden) language on the download webpage?

3) Any required (or forbidden) language on release announcements?

4) Is there some required (or forbidden) constraint with distribution?

So far I have heard some on this list suggest the AOO podling is doing
something incorrect, something against ASF policy.  But dispute
repeated queries, no one has stated what exactly this is.  This is
extremely unfair to the podling, to any podling.  It denies us the
opportunity of addressing issues.  Is this really how the IPMC
operates?  It reminds me of tactics practiced by Microsoft against
open source -- intimate that something is wrong, but never offer
specifics.  We call it FUD there.  What do we call it at the ASF?

> It would be very useful if that paragraph were amended to say so
> explicitly. I've had no end of trouble trying to explain to managers and
> customers that any binaries that come from the ASF are not "official".

That may be true for your users, but for mine they would just come
back with, "What does that mean in practice?"

> Regardless of the policy stated numerous times in this thread and on
> this list, this is not clear anywhere in the bylaws or other online
> documentation (that I can find).
>

I agree.

> -- Brane
>
> P.S.: I asked this same question on legal-discuss a week ago. My post
> has not even been moderated through as of today, so referring people to
> that list doesn't appear to be too helpful.
>
>
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