Happy to know about the commercial support for kubuntu. Thanks for all who are behind this. <div class="gmail_quote">On 03-Sep-2013 7:31 PM, "Jonathan Riddell" <<a href="mailto:jr@jriddell.org">jr@jriddell.org</a>> wrote: <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"> ----- Forwarded message from Niall McCarthy <<a href="mailto:nmccarthy@emerge-open.com">nmccarthy@emerge-open.com</a>> ----- Date: Tue, 3 Sep 2013 10:15:49 +0100 Subject: Please forward to the Kubuntu Council From: Niall McCarthy <<a href="mailto:nmccarthy@emerge-open.com">nmccarthy@emerge-open.com</a>> To: Jonathan Riddell <<a href="mailto:jr@jriddell.org">jr@jriddell.org</a>>, Tariq Fayaz <<a href="mailto:tariq@withsupport.co.uk">tariq@withsupport.co.uk</a>> Hi Jonathan, I'm delighted that we've finally got the commercial Kubuntu support offering under way. It feels like such a long time since we first spoke! Some points for the council to discuss please: a) We currently have no engagement contract in place with Kubuntu. I think it is always wise to have a contract in place. With your permission, Emerge Open will get a contract drafted for your review over the coming months. The contract will be published under Creative Commons. b) Emerge Open is a not-for-profit who's mission is to provide sustainable funding for Open Source Communities. If you do anything for us please emphasize this point. c) As you are aware Emerge Open's support service is currently outsourced to WithSupport Ltd. We've been delighted with our relationship with WithSupport for the last year and have found them highly professional and skilled. However, if the Kubuntu Community is unhappy with the quality of commercial support it is receiving then it can request that Emerge Open changes its support partner. This process will have to be fleshed out in contract. In short, the Kubuntu Community retains its right to choose. d) The Kubuntu commercial support will not be the only source of funding you will receive from Emerge Open. In the very near future, all profits from any IT Service provision will be pushed directly into Community. This will be on a trial basis for the moment and it does not relate to profits that Emerge Open will make from similar relationships we may have with other Communities. The money will be split evenly between our Community partners (currently, Kubuntu is the only one, but that is likely to change soon). Please bear in mind that we're a start up so IT Services profits are going to be thin on the ground for a while :) e) Emerge Open provides Recruitment services. Revenue from the recruitment services will be used to pay our staff, to finance business growth and to create a fund for larger investments in Community. The recruitment services are explicitly separate from IT services. We publish some vacancies (<a href="http://www.emerge-open.biz/#!jobs/cw67" target="_blank">http://www.emerge-open.biz/#!jobs/cw67</a>) and Kubuntu can also attract contributions through this mechanism as explained on the website. f) Emerge Open directors cannot be paid a dividend and the business cannot be sold for private gain. Director's pay is published here: <a href="http://www.emerge-open.biz/#!being-open/cy29" target="_blank">http://www.emerge-open.biz/#!being-open/cy29</a> Please have no hesitation in contacting me should you have any questions. Best regards, Niall -- Niall McCarthy Tel: <a href="tel:%2B44%20%280%29203%200510129" value="+442030510129">+44 (0)203 0510129</a> Web: <a href="http://www.emerge-open.biz" target="_blank">www.emerge-open.biz</a> "Genius is 99% Collaboration and 1% Inspiration" -- kubuntu-devel mailing list <a href="mailto:kubuntu-devel@lists.ubuntu.com">kubuntu-devel@lists.ubuntu.com</a> Modify settings or unsubscribe at: <a href="https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/kubuntu-devel" target="_blank">https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/kubuntu-devel</a> </blockquote></div>