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Microsoft Patent Deal Could Leave Novell Behind
robbyyy writes to mention a Computer Business Review Online article about commentary from Bruce Perens to Novell, about their recent deal with Microsoft. He argues that the company should quickly turn its back on the deal, because Novell risks being left behind by open source progress. From the article: "While Linux creator Linus Torvalds has previously stated that the Linux kernel will remain on the GPL v2 license, much of the code that makes up a complete Linux distribution is owned by the FSF, which intends to re-license all its code to GPL v3 as soon as it is completed in early 2007. 'In the face of these changes, Novell will probably be stuck with old versions of the software, under old licenses, with Novell sustaining the entire cost and burden of maintaining that software,' Perens wrote, adding that Novell faces a choice of sticking with Microsoft and being left behind, or turning its back on the patent deal."
> The end of the world is not nigh
/. readers going to realise...
.net (I don't care but I'm sure someone will) then it's a good thing, right ?
And it's not ni! either (OK. Monty Python reference over)
When are FUD-crazed
1. Novell does not own Linux. They do some deal with Microsoft, so what ? They got some free lunches (probably).
2. If mono is more compatible with
3. Are Novell really p***ing off FSF ? Who are the FSF ? To me FSF is some nebulous movement, it's certainly not an organisation that's right now organising protests in the street.
4. Does anyone really care ? If Novell and FSF don't talk, how will they (FSF) stop Novell from using open source code ? They can't, as long as they respect the licencing.
5. If Novell keep pumping out a few decent bits and pieces of Linux software then can't we be happy with that ?
6. Microsoft haven't pulled a fast one. I'm ready to believe that MS needed compatibility with the rest of the world because OpenOffice.org etc are just getting to strong. They're not the monopoly they used to be. Look at Firefox if you need another example.
Was that a rant ? Sorry if it was.
"While Linux creator Linus Torvalds has previously stated that the Linux kernel will remain on the GPL v2 license, much of the code that makes up a complete Linux distribution is owned by the FSF..."
Translation:- "Novell, you haven't done what we want you to do. Therefore I'm going to try and scare you into getting back with the program. Fear is something which our friends in the FSF deal in rather a lot these days; our own fear of the dreaded bogeyman DRM, as well as the fear we try and instill in other people of the bad things that could happen if they don't do exactly as we say."
Go and crawl back under your rock, Bruce. Aside from anything else, there are at least 3 libc projects alone that I know of which either aren't under the GPL, or are, but aren't part of the GNU project and hence are not necessarily migrating to GPL v3. Novell can and I suspect will replace as much of their system as they need to; and I would recommend they do it as soon as possible, so that they no longer have to endure radical egomaniacs like you who somehow think that anybody who uses Linux is answerable to you by default. Another thing...fearmongering and making veiled, euphemistic threats really doesn't make you look good, in case you were wondering...that's the sort of behaviour I'd expect Steve Ballmer to engage in. Once again, with the FSF and the Debian Project's mujahideen, we see more evidence that the so-called cure is just as bad as the disease (Microsoft) itself, if not actually worse.
It's time for Linux to fork, IMHO...past time, in fact. Let Perens, Stallman, Kuhn, and all the other hard leftist whackjobs fork it and go and work on their own system. Meanwhile sane, mainstream society can retain the primary tree...as well as hopefully beginning work to replace the GNU project's applications as quickly as possible. Once that's done, FSF apologists will have no basis to continue screeching about how much we owe Stallman and how we have no right whatsoever to use Linux unless bow down and worship him and obey his (and his followers') every deranged decree. I've been accused in a recent post on here of having major problems with FOSS itself...I don't have problems with the software at all...I just really badly want and need to see some of the freaks get thrown over the side.
So, FSF...if you don't like what the rest of the world are doing, there's an easier alternative than trying to ram your own retrograde viewpoints down everyone else's throat, which IMHO would work a lot better for everyone. Fork off.
That way, those of us who want to can use Linux while at the same time being blissfully able to forget that you exist.