Local is lekker with new OpenOffice software

[daveza]

http://www.ioltechnology.co.za/article_page.php?iArticleId=5397107

In celebration of Human Rights Day, Pretoria-based company Translate.org.za has released computer software in a range of local languages.

South African PC users can now buy office suite software in their home language.

Translate.org.za has released local language versions of the popular OpenOffice.org software in English, Afrikaans and Northern Sotho.

The software costs R385 and is available from the www.translate.org.za website.

Since when do you pay for OpenOffice ?

 

[HavocXphere]

Since when do you pay for OpenOffice ?

You'd be paying for the translation in this case not the office suite itself. Mighty sketchy business model.

 

[daveza]

http://translate.org.za/content/view/17/54/lang,en-za/

They charge the same for the English version.

 

[HavocXphere]

http://translate.org.za/content/view/17/54/lang,en-za/

They charge the same for the English version.

Thats probably an OO license violation.

I see they are listed on the OO page though as CD distributors, so I guess OO already knows about it.
http://distribution.openoffice.org/cdrom/

Page also says "Please note: Distributors charge a small fee to cover their costs and postage. " 380+ seems excessive though.

 

[Avenue]

Thats probably an OO license violation.

no, you are allowed to sell products that are licensed under the gnu public licensing- this is completely legal.
But by the same token you are now allowed to take those translated cd's and distribute them to anyone and everyone- so if they get money from it good for them, hope they recover some of their costs... but if you really want it and dont want to pay, look for a free version somewhere on line

 

[Moederloos]

On the plus side, this represents a commitment to African Languages and OSS. Pity the gauvamint still uses M$ despite them announcing sometime back they were going OSS.

M$ probably gave Mbeki a pie and a Coke to continue using their products.