[OSGeo-UK] Call to discussion on [QGIS-Developer] Theoretical discussion: A QGIS paid plugin marketplace?

[Nick Bearman]

Dear Valerio & list,

Thank you for raising this on the UK list. I have been following the 
discussion on the QGIS-Developer list and it is really interesting - do 
sign up if you want to.

Of particularly interest is the Blender Plugin market place, where 
people can pay to purchase plugins for Blender. This seems to be a 
viable solution for Blender.

The two key points seem that a) the Blender marketplace is a separate 
organisation to the Blender Foundation and b) all plugins need to be GPL 
(even the paid ones). GPL doesn't prevent charging for software but does 
require the source code to be open, which might appear a bit odd at 
first, but it seems this appears not to create a problem.

My personal view is that it would be good to create this as an option, 
as long as QGIS itself remains freely available.

Please do share your own views!

Best wishes,
Nick.

On 07/02/2024 20:51, Valerio Pinna via UK wrote:
> Dear QGIS fellows,
>
> I would like to propose to the discussion a particularly important 
> topic that other QGIS local communities are debating these days.
>
> A few days ago a discussion started in the dev list on the possibility 
> of establishing an official market for QGIS plugins, in which, in 
> parallel with the official repository where free plugins are 
> available, developers can publish paid plugins.
>
> https://lists.osgeo.org/pipermail/qgis-developer/2024-January/066451.html
>
> As the discussion continues on the dev list, many local communities 
> are starting to discuss the topic, seeking to participate as a 
> collective in the debate.
>
> Given the nature of the topic, it would be very interesting for me and 
> I think for all of us if there was a debate on the topic here too and 
> if our local community could express itself on the matter.
>
> Currently, there are different positions on this topic, having both 
> people in favour and people against the proposal. There are certainly 
> both pros and cons that both positions are trying to clarify and 
> evaluate.
>
> Personally, although not a priori against the idea, I'm quite worried 
> about the proposal, even recognizing the that QGIS plugin market 
> already exists, and of which I am somehow part, developing plugins for 
> private companies in parallel with the plugins that I create 
> voluntarily and I publish in the repository official.
> I am honestly worried that this decision could open the door to a 
> change of direction that from the current  fully open-source policy 
> could lead to the questioning of the GPL license, which until now has 
> been a founding element of QGIS and its community.
>
> At the same time, very positive examples from other open-source 
> software (e.g., Blender) seem to show that the combination of 
> open-source software and private paid plugin development can cohabit 
> without compromising the underlying values of the project.
>
> Looking forward to listening to more opinions.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Valerio P.
>
> _______________________________________________
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> UK at lists.osgeo.org
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-- 
Nick Bearman
+44 (0) 7717745715
nick at geospatialtrainingsolutions.co.uk

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