Ideally, we would have preferred to avoid this post. However, the articles and comments published in response to Collabora’s and Michael Meeks’ biased posts compel us to provide this background information on the events that led to the current situation. Unfortunately, we have to start from the very beginning, but we’ll try to keep it brief. The launch of the LibreOffice project and The Document Foundation was handled with great enthusiasm by the founding group. They were driven by a noble goal, but also by a bit of healthy recklessness. After all, it was impossible to imagine what would happen after September 28, 2010, the date of the announcement. At the time, nobody could imagine that the companies that had supported OpenOffice.org until then would create a project to kill LibreOffice. Also, if the project were to be successful, it would require resources greater than those available, and above all, a deep management experience. Fortunately, the project grew quite rapidly. However, the founders’ different backgrounds and opinions were at the same time the reason for some bold decisions – many of which right – as well as a few mistakes, which are the root cause of some of the current
Quite the opposite. Meeks claims that this was some sort of conspiracy against him and others. Also that the announcement was unforeseen, or that it is a sort of feud. An admission of the utter failure of the document foundation, and a lot of other butthurt comments, etc.
While this post clearly states that he was most likely part of the conversation from the beginning. That some of those participating were acting in bad faith with finger pointing and holding on to unethical priviledges. That this is a symptom of a much bigger, systemic and older legal problem than Collabora itself. And that this is just part of trying to make things right and ensuring the legal survival of TDF as a nonprofit organization.
These kind of conversations do get a bit heated up. But Meeks do reek of trying to play victim in a situation that extends beyond himself and still seems likely to be partially his responsibility. Maybe Collabora is right in some way to be angry at TDF. However, all their communications have been very sour in tone and lacking in transparency.
A lot of words spent on saying nothing.
Quite the opposite. Meeks claims that this was some sort of conspiracy against him and others. Also that the announcement was unforeseen, or that it is a sort of feud. An admission of the utter failure of the document foundation, and a lot of other butthurt comments, etc.
While this post clearly states that he was most likely part of the conversation from the beginning. That some of those participating were acting in bad faith with finger pointing and holding on to unethical priviledges. That this is a symptom of a much bigger, systemic and older legal problem than Collabora itself. And that this is just part of trying to make things right and ensuring the legal survival of TDF as a nonprofit organization.
These kind of conversations do get a bit heated up. But Meeks do reek of trying to play victim in a situation that extends beyond himself and still seems likely to be partially his responsibility. Maybe Collabora is right in some way to be angry at TDF. However, all their communications have been very sour in tone and lacking in transparency.
We should wait to see which way the dust settles.
Clown