Brainstorming on FAQs -- draft

Work In Progress - not yet an approved public resource, please refer to the dev list. Keep it simple and factual!

1. Is there a release of Apache OpenOffice I can download?
   • Not yet. We will have a new release soon, Apache OpenOffice v3.4.  This will complete the work started in the earlier OpenOffice.org 3.4 beta
   • Developer versions of 3.4 are available although they are not intended for end-user purposes apart from testing.
      
2. When is the next release of OpenOffice expected? What features will it have?
   • All feature work for OpenOffice 3.4 is done and we're fixing a few more critical bugs. 
   • The OpenOffice 3.4 release should be soon, although we cannot promise a specific date.
   • Features of OpenOffice 3.4 include native SVG support, improved ODF 1.2 encryption support, enhanced Asian word count support, new spreadsheet functions, more optimized PDF exports, a new color picker dialog, etc.
   • Details can be found in the draft Apache OpenOffice 3.4 release notes.
   •  If you want to be notified as soon as OpenOffice 3.4 is available for download, you can send an email to ooo-announce-subscribe@incubator.apache.org.
3. What has Oracle given to Apache?
   • Oracle contributed the OpenOffice.org source code to the Apache Software Foundation using the Apache Software Grant Agreement (SGA).
   • This SGA permits the Apache OpenOffice Project Management Committee the ability to re-license the OpenOffice source code under the Apache 2.0 license. 
   • Oracle transferred to  Apache the trademarks and domain names owned by them and associated with the project.
   • Oracle provided assistance to help migrate websites and other services hosted by Oracle to Apache servers.
      
4. Is OpenOffice still open source? Is it still free software?
   • Yes. Apache OpenOffice is still both open source software and free software.
   • The new license, the Apache License 2.0, is compatible with the GNU GPLv3 and with the GNU LGPLv3 (the previous license), as well as MPLv2, the new Mozilla license.
   • Apache OpenOffice will always be free for download from the official website: http://www.openoffice.org.
      
5. Why has the name changed?
   • The OpenOffice project voted to change the name from "OpenOffice.org" to "Apache OpenOffice"
   • This was done after extensive community discussion and comment.  
   • One constraint was that we had to preface the name with "Apache", per Apache branding guidelines.
   • So one alternative was "Apache OpenOffice.org".   Those who voted for the name change to "Apache OpenOffice" generally thought the shorter name was better.
   •  Future releases will be called Apache OpenOffice.  "OpenOffice.org" is used to refer to the pre-Apache releases.
      
6. What is the status of OpenOffice at Apache?
   • We are a "podling" in the "Apache Incubator". 
   • When new codebases and new communities are brought to Apache they begin in the Incubator. The Incubator Project Management Committee supports new projects in their initial period at Apache. IMPC members are experienced volunteers missioned to help podling members understand how Apache works, technically, procedurally as well as socially. 
   • A project "graduates" from the Incubator when it has demonstrated that it has met various Apache policy requirements and community guidelines. 
   • Being in the Incubator is not a reflection of the completeness or stability of the code.  It is merely a statement that our 12 year old project is new at Apache.
      
7. Who is developing Apache OpenOffice?
   • Work on Apache OpenOffice is performed by a diverse group of volunteers, from over a dozen countries. 
   • We have participants who are brand new to the project as of last week.  We also have many old hands, who have been involved with OpenOffice for a decade or more. 
   • These volunteers work on coding, testing, documentation, websites, translations, marketing as well as other functions. 
   • If you are interested in helping develop the next great version of Apache OpenOffice please take a look at our Getting Involved page.
      
8. Where can I get updates to the copy of OpenOffice.org that I am running?
   • The latest release of OpenOffice.org is 3.3.  If you have that then you have the latest version.
   • If you would like to extend the capabilities of OpenOffice 3.3 you might take a look at the many compatible extensions and templates that are available.
      
9. I have seen advertisements on eBay and elsewhere offering OpenOffice for sale. Are they from this project?
   • No. Apache never sells software or engages in any other commercial activity.
   • OpenOffice is open source software that can be freely downloaded from the http://www.openoffice.org website.
   • Third parties are allowed to redistribute it for a fee or add their own software to it.
   • Users are warned however that there are some dishonest people who will try to sell unrelated products for huge fees or include adware and malware in bundles, or sell "subscriptions" that result in repeated charges to your credit card.
   • Users are warned to only download from the project directly and not from other sites.