Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

What the GPLv3 Means for MS-Novell Agreement

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the dry-as-a-cracker dept.

eldavojohn writes to mention IT Business Edge has a dry but interesting interview with a lawyer (Antoinette Tease) on the effects the GPLv3 on the Microsoft & Novell alliance. From her answers: "Unlike prior versions of the GNU General Public License (GPL), which did not address patent rights, the current draft of the GPL version 3 has several provisions that address patent rights. Section 2 states that the license to use the open source code 'terminates if you bring suit against anyone for patent infringement of any of your essential patent claims' based on any version of the open source program." She goes on to say "the GPLv3 as currently drafted would impose an obligation on Novell to somehow 'shield' its customers from patent lawsuits brought by Microsoft, or, alternatively, to make the source code publicly available..."

6 of 161 comments (clear)

  1. Re:What it means by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Use your dick, it's probably small enough.

  2. Re:micro$oft by PhysicsPhil · · Score: 4, Funny

    What is microsoft doing? Are they trying to get into the Linux market or are they just playing patent games?

    Can't they do both?

  3. I can't be the only one... by shinma · · Score: 2, Funny

    That thinks Antoinette Tease sounds like a porn star name...

    --
    Shinma
    1. Re:I can't be the only one... by drinkypoo · · Score: 2, Funny

      Sorry to disappoint, but there are pictures and the only position she'd hold in porn would be behind the camera, unless it was one of those boring-ass pornos supposedly made by women for women but they're actually made by women for geriatrics.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  4. Re:v2 is not an option for Novell by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    How much of this old crap do they really need modifications for? If GCC isn't working now, it never will.

  5. M.A.D. or M.A.L.? by Kazrael · · Score: 2, Funny

    Mutually Assured Destruction through mutually assured lawsuits?

    --
    Development notes at http://devscribbles.blogspot.com