LibreOffice's Donation Banner: Addressing the Controversy and Context
By
bundie
Not artisan, but a perfectly fine bagel. Hits the spot.
Summary
The article addresses the controversy surrounding LibreOffice's decision to add a donation banner to its Start Centre in version 26.8. It argues that the reaction has been disproportionate, explaining that the banner will only appear periodically in the bottom quarter of the Start Centre screen, won't block functionality, and is a reasonable request for funding from a free and open-source software project. The piece critiques alarmist responses that frame this as an 'aggressive fundraising campaign' or move toward 'freemium' models.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledThe announcement that LibreOffice 26.8 will feature a donation banner in the Start Centre has prompted a flood of responses, ranging from positive from many FOSS supporters, who understand the need for funding, to mild apprehension to extreme alarm from others.
Some articles have described the change as an 'aggressive fundraising campaign' and suggested that it is part of a dangerous trend towards 'freemium' models and paid features.
The banner will appear in the Start Centre – the screen that greets users when they launch LibreOffice without opening a specific document – and will occupy roughly the bottom quarter of the screen.
It will not block any functionality, nor will it restrict access to any features. According to the implementation plan, it will appear periodically, but not at every launch.
It is a request that is certainly not intrusive, given that the Start Centre is a screen that many users – at best – glance at for a few seconds.
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