Jeremy Allison Resigns From Novell In Protest

walterbyrd writes to alert us to word from groklaw.net that Jeremy Allison has turned in his resignation at Novell. "The legendary Jeremy Allison (of Samba fame) has resigned from Novell in protest over the Microsoft-Novell patent agreement, which he calls 'a mistake' that will be 'damaging to Novell's success in the future.' His main issue with the deal, though, is 'that even if it does not violate the letter of the license, it violates the intent of the GPL license the Samba code is released under, which is to treat all recipients of the code equally.' He leaves the company at the end of this month. He explained why in a message sent to several Novell email lists, and the message included his letter to management."

Comments

What really happened

[autophile]

Executive #1: Hey, I just got an Internet!
Executive #2: Who from?
Executive #1: Some guy named Jeremy. Isn't this caviar good?
Executive #2: Sure is. Who's Jeremy?
Executive #1: I think he's some greasy coder.
Executive #2: Ha ha, they are *so* *guh-ross!*
Executive #1: You said it! Here, have a small, autonomous Micronesian island, complete with 143 nubile slaves and an offshore account.

Ha ha only serious?

--Rob

Re:Intent doesn't matter

[arth1]

You don't think that MS and Novell have had teams of lawyers going over everything for this deal, including the GPL. When it comes down to it, it's the letter of the contract that matters, not the intent that was in the minds of the writers.

If I write a contract to deliver a dozen roses, but for some reason I think that carnation is called a rose and instead deliver a dozen carnations, I will be held in breach of contract. It doesn't matter what my intent was if I framed the contract improperly to ensure my intent.

Fortunately, YANAL, and you're dead wrong. Using your example, if you deliver Kevin Rose and 9 members of his family, you've fulfilled the letter of the contract, but will still be held in breach of it because you violented the intent of it.

Probably Not

[codepunk]

However, nobody is saying samba has got to be easy to compile, run or maintain on Novell's distro.

Re:Intent doesn't matter

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, when you deliver humans, it's called a "cannibal's dozen". Historically speaking, you eat two on the way. So, there's only 10.

Re:Winnowing The Herd

[Tx]

I'd sacrifice my principals for lots of cash, but not my principles.

Re:I applaud him!

[SuiteSisterMary]

"GPL3 ain't done till Microsoft and Novell won't run"?