KatsBits Community

General Category => Blog => Topic started by: kat on May 22, 2013, 07:30:19 PM

Title: Cancelled Blender Network membership (& possibly loosing BFCT status)
Post by: kat on May 22, 2013, 07:30:19 PM
[update] as of May/June 2013 KatsBits is no longer BFCT. For more details pertaining to the situation and KatsBits being BFCT please read the following; "Cancelled Blender Network membership (& possibly loosing BFCT status) (https://www.katsbits.com/smforum/index.php?topic=504.0)" and "KatsBits no longer BFCT (where do 'we' go from here?) (https://www.katsbits.com/smforum/index.php?topic=516.0)".



Well... that didn't last long.

Had to cancel membership to Blender Network (http://blendernetwork.org) because they don't have, and more to the point, are not going to, cater to those 'promoting'/using Blender sat between "Corporations", i.e. legally registered 'Entities' - 'partnerships', 'limited companies' etc., and "Freelance" individuals, i.e. anyone providing services in their name (relative to how BN want 'names' to be displayed), but not necessarily as a 'self-employed' individual or person 'employed' in such activities, nor necessarily or specifically as a 'business concern', i.e. individuals perhaps 'moonlighting' and saying they freelance without declaring that income, as aught to be done when engaged properly as one.

KatsBits, and it should be noted at time of writing, it appears a few other (known) members, does not/do not 'operate' (for want of a better word) under the auspices of being a "Freelance" individual. Nor is it (as of yet?) a legally protected/registered Entity. So rather than 'lie' (again, for want of a better word), it was thought best to cancel membership with Blender Network with all that entails, including the possibility of loosing Blender Foundation Certified Trainer status (unsure of this at time of writing but it appears a given due to BN membership being a 'requirement' of the BFCT program).

Whilst this is somewhat disappointing, it has to be said the outcome wasn't wholly unexpected due to Blender Foundation's history of limited thinking with respect to courting and catering to Professionals (or more to the point, whatever the Foundation believes constitutes a 'professional'), some of which have been discussed here on KatsBits before. It just seems that over the years, to ask for feedback and suggestion with respect to adding support for this very particular and exacting demographic, and then for all intents and purposes, appear to ignore everything which doesn't fit the preconceived notions about doing that, isn't particularly constructive. Nor does it imbue a sense of growth. All it does is encourage the same names to pop up whenever Blender is mentioned, the "cliques" which perpetuate and reinforce the fundamental problem highlighted in the above.

So, what does this mean for KatsBits? Minus the badges? Nothing. KatsBits will continue to do what KatsBits does, providing the material you need to get started making content for games. To perhaps misappropriate Henry V famous charging cry, "once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more..."
Title: Re: Cancelled Blender Network membership (& possibly loosing BFCT status)
Post by: ratty redemption on May 22, 2013, 07:53:13 PM
kat, you have my sympathy and support, although i don't fully understand what is the issue the bf has? can you simplify the legal aspect?
Title: Re: Cancelled Blender Network membership (& possibly loosing BFCT status)
Post by: kat on May 22, 2013, 09:11:35 PM
It's just to do with the way Blender activities are defined by the limited interpretations of what BF/BN think a 'professional' is - in their eyes that's either as a registered company (with a company number), or not - the "or not" simply being "Freelance" - which doesn't properly represent basic business circumstances. In the UK for instance "Freelance" doesn't mean anything with respect to defining the business entity itself (in a similar vein to registered companies being described as "Limited", "Private", "Partnership" etc.), it simply describes a particular way in which services are provided. The difference is not really devoid of consequence, but the time wasted arguing the point can be put to better use, hence cancelling (mutually and amicably it should be said).
Title: Re: Cancelled Blender Network membership (& possibly loosing BFCT status)
Post by: Shaderman on May 22, 2013, 09:53:26 PM
Sounds strange and sorry to hear that kat. BF should encourage people like you, but instead one may think they don't esteem the work you've done for Blender for several years now  :-\ Well, life will go on...
Title: Re: Cancelled Blender Network membership (& possibly loosing BFCT status)
Post by: ratty redemption on May 23, 2013, 05:46:44 PM
correct me if i'm wrong here kat, so the bf/bn don't think you're a big enough player to be allowed into their elitist club? if so that's very short sighted, especially considering i still learn things from you and your site here, and i've been using blender for years.
Title: Re: Cancelled Blender Network membership (& possibly loosing BFCT status)
Post by: kat on May 23, 2013, 07:09:05 PM
Despite that being wildly speculative, it's a reasonable conclusion based on available information ;D

In BF/BN's defense, these types of situations are symptomatic of open-source projects generally where community participation is needed for growth. However, it all still needs someone, or some group, to be making informed executive decisions else you end up with a fragmented community - much like the current, and acknowledged by BF/BN, situation with Blender funny enough. It's not necessarily an easy problem to solve, certainly when not privy to the inner workings of the Foundation ;)
Title: Re: Cancelled Blender Network membership (& possibly loosing BFCT status)
Post by: ratty redemption on May 23, 2013, 07:58:48 PM
he he, so the reason they are shutting out people like yourself, is too keep everything officially blender related in a small number of places? if so, i can see the logic in that to some degree, although i don't really agree with the ethos.

on a personaly note, the latest official release 2.67a did include some gui bug fixes i reported, which had been bothering me for months, so as far as the editor goes, i'm enjoying using it again.
Title: Re: Cancelled Blender Network membership (& possibly loosing BFCT status)
Post by: kat on May 23, 2013, 09:16:00 PM
I'm not sure it can be characterised quite that obliquely, but yes it's certainly an indirect consequence of their current policy to focus everything directly related to Blender on or closely associated with Blender.org.