Red Hat's Open Source Assurance Program

scubacuda writes "ZDnet and others report that Red Hat now offers the 'Open Source Assurance Program' as protection for customers if they get hit with a copyright infringement case from the SCO Group. From their website: 'A key feature of the Open Source Assurance Program is an Intellectual Property Warranty. The warranty ensures, that in the event that an infringement issue is identified in Red Hat Enterprise Linux software code, Red Hat will replace the infringing code. Red Hat's warranty assures customers that they can use Red Hat Enterprise Linux and related solutions without interruption. The warranty is available for all customers having a valid registered subscription to Red Hat Enterprise Linux or related solutions.'" Following close behind Novell and Hewlett-Packard, but it looks like Red Hat is not actually indemnifying their customers like Novell and HP, but rather is simply promising to fix any real copyright problems moving forward, which is something I think we would assume they would do in any case.

Comments

"if we're caught, we won't do it again"

[Rhubarb Crumble]

but rather is simply promising to fix any real copyright problems moving forward, which is something I think we would assume they would do in any case.

So, they are promising, in case they are slapped with a cease-and-desist order, to cease and desist. Whatever next?

This is a better solution than the others

[MajorDick]

IMHO, this is a MUCH better solution, while I dislike SCO and their tactics, there MAY be some validity to their point , afterall look at how many contributions have been made, its happened before in opensource where someone included copyrighted code (yes I know what they have thus far claimed cant be verified) BUT what happens if it does ?

Remove the code ! I trust RedHat to replace the code quickly and effectivley, RH has made tons of contributions to linux. The others offer to absolve financial IF there is infringing code, RH says hey dont worry well replace the code so those infringments dont apply.

I like this solution much better being a RedHat customer.

Peace of mind for the customer

[aquabat]

If we assume SCO somehow convinces a judge that they own something in Linux, then the most they can do to an end user is demand that the user either sign a contract that allows them to continue using that part of Linux, or stop using that part of Linux.

RedHat is saying to its customers "You can keep using our product without worry: We'll be right over to replace any part of your RedHat Linux solution which SCO can convince a judge they own."

RedHat has it right. They know SCO can't sue an end user for breach of contract if SCO doesn't have a contract with the end user.

RH has always been careful about IP

[ivanmarsh]

That's why they removed fortune cookie and mp3 support from their distro.