Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Novell Worries About GPL v3

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the deliver-the-code-and-nobody-cares dept.

An anonymous reader writes "In its annual report for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2006, Novell expressed concerns over how the new version of the GPL may affect their business. Microsoft might stop distributing Suse coupons if the GPL version 3 interferes with their agreement or puts Microsoft's patents at risk, ultimately causing Novell's business and operating results to be adversely affected."

5 of 157 comments (clear)

  1. Being paranoid is S.O.P in these things. by cant_get_a_good_nick · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In these filings you have to state EVERYTHING you may ever think of that could even slightly affect your stock price, or bear the brunt of a multi-million dollar shareholder lawsuit later if it hiccups in the slightest. The fact that they stated this doesn't imply any amount of actual fear of the GPL, just that it's something they need to be aware of.

    Not quite "nothing to see here, move along" but definitely not a tabloid headline.

  2. Re:Wow, Novell is worried??? by bigtomrodney · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I agree. If you are going to follow the letter but not the spirit of an agreement then you can't expect anyone to come to comfort you. The GPL and the FOSS community may exist in a world where legalese prevails, but it is the heart and spirit of the community that drives it not profit. Novell tested the GPL and won. It's only fair that the community push back to defend themselves.

    --
    I never get used to these constant resurrections
  3. Exactly by pavon · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Note, that they also listed the SCO lawsuit as a risk in the report, and we all know how likely that is.

  4. Re:Why worry? by supersnail · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I would pretty much guarentee that the core GNU tool set -- bash, gcc, nmake, emacs, GTK, GIMP etc. will go GPL 3
    as soon as is practical.

    These tools are written and maintained by RMS et al. who have an idealogical commitment to GPL 3 and Open Source and dont really care about market share etc.

    So if Suse want to distribute a linux minus the tools, the compilers and a major desktop environment good luck to them.

    Incidently there is a business principle so basic I dont think it is even mentioned in self help management books :- "Dont sue your customers" you may win the law suit but you will have an ex customer for sure. So the chances of a real cutomer being sued by MS are practicaly 0.

    --
    Old COBOL programmers never die. They just code in C.
  5. That they dealt with Microsoft is not the issue by Freed · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Had the deal been with Red Hat, IBM, or whoever, Novell would still be rightly shunned. The patent agreement itself is what stinks. (Although Microsoft admittedly adds stink in their own unparalleled way.)