Re: [SLUG] Some animals are more equal ...

[Jeff Waugh <jdub@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

<quote who="jam@xxxxxxxxx">

> FWIW I think Novell-Microsoft is a good thing.  It lets ME watch, listen
> and play as I want. MS are commercial, I don't need to be a cynic to watch
> for their overtures. But *freedom* lets ME do as I want. 

Why is it good that Novell have affirmed Microsoft's belief that they should
be paid tithing for the commercialisation of Linux (and other Open Source
software)?

> This is a very disturbing trend (you are free to do as you want, provided I 
> approve ...)
> http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyID=2007-02-03T093134Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-286203-1.xml

The header vastly overstates the issue, and the article is a mess:

 * The FSF are considering adding a clause to GPLv3 that would cleverly
   *neutralise* the value of the deal for projects other than Linux (see
   points below). It would *NOT* "ban" Novell from selling Linux.

 * The FSF does *not* "control intellectual property rights to key parts of
   the open-source Linux operating system" by any stretch of the
   imagination.

 * For the forseeable future, the proposed clauses would not affect Linux
   itself anyway, because thus far the majority of kernel developers don't
   seem to be interested in using GPLv3. It is very likely to affect Samba,
   which would still be a big deal for Novell.

If you enjoy getting angry about the state of the world, choose your sources
wisely.

- Jeff

-- 
Open CeBIT 2007: Sydney, Australia              http://www.opencebit.com.au/
 
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