[Bf-committers] Add-ons in Blender for commercial services

[Ton Roosendaal]

Hi Terry,

The 'compliancy' and 'user benefit' rules would be sufficient to function as veto. It's quite subjective anyway :) I will make sure such vendors understand that the judgement of these criteria are being handled by us only. The have to make a convincing case.

-Ton-

--------------------------------------------------------
Ton Roosendaal  -  ton at blender.org   -   www.blender.org
Chairman Blender Foundation - Producer Blender Institute
Entrepotdok 57A  -  1018AD Amsterdam  -  The Netherlands



On 8 Aug, 2013, at 11:16, Terry Wallwork wrote:

> On 07/08/13 12:40, Ton Roosendaal wrote:
>> Hi,
>> 
>> Hopefully this doesn't become a huge thread - I'd mainly like to get some feedback from frequent contributors.
>> 
>> Some companies have contacted me about the possibility of having an add-on in our releases that hook up Blender with their services. That's for example Shapeways, but also render farm providers.
>> 
>> Such addons would make it easier for users to submit 3d models to a 3d printing service (one click submit, costs feedback, etc). Or for submitting render jobs to a farm with some feedback mechanisms.
>> 
>> I'm still struggling with how or if we want this... I certainly don't want to open up Blender for crappy commercialization with logos, banners, etc.
>> 
>> A workable proposal I formulated is below, for which I'd like some feedback.
>> 
>> ------
>> 
>> BF will accept add-ons in a release from commercial vendors/services under the following conditions:
>> 
>> 1) Compliancy
>> The add-on should comply to the same quality/design rules as we do for regular add-ons. That includes license compliancy, but also to not include banners, logos or advertisement.
>> The add-on would default be not enabled, users have to activate it themselves.
>> 
>> 2) Clear user benefit
>> The add-on should provide functionality to 3D artists that's useful to have inside Blender. It can't be for promotional usage of non-functional features (like linking to websites only, for tutorials, book stores, etc).
>> 
>> 3) Developed and maintained well
>> The add-on is being created and maintained by the service provider (or a contracter managed by them).
>> 
>> 4) Development Fund support
>> The service provider signs up for Diamond Sponsor level (250 euro per month). Cancelling a payment then also means we can drop the add-on. Any service that's not making this profits per month with an add-on, can be considered to be not interested to have such an add-on either.
>> 
>> 
>> -Ton-
>> 
>> --------------------------------------------------------
>> Ton Roosendaal  -  ton at blender.org   -   www.blender.org
>> Chairman Blender Foundation - Producer Blender Institute
>> Entrepotdok 57A  -  1018AD Amsterdam  -  The Netherlands
>> 
>> 
>> 
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> 
> Hi,
> 
>     Would there be some sort of catch all condition which would allow 
> you to reject an addon even if it meets all the rules you specified.  
> Giving you overall veto.  I ask because the commercial addon writers 
> will try to game the system if it becomes popular to get addons in Blender.
> 
> Ton/BF having a veto would help stop arguments with writers that try and 
> game the system.  Because then you can just say to them there is 
> veto/your decisions is final sort of thing.  It could act as a safety 
> valve to keep out the sneaky addons that are gaming.
> 
> Other than that it seem like an excellent idea to me what you are proposing.
> 
> Terry Wallwork
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