11.13.06
Samba Team Denounces the Novell Deal
Here is a link to their full announcement, but this excerpt summarizes it pretty well:
The patent agreement struck between Novell and Microsoft is a divisive agreement. It deals with users and creators of free software differently depending on their “commercial” versus “non-commercial” status, and deals with them differently depending on whether they obtained their free software directly from Novell or from someone else.
The goals of the Free Software community and the GNU GPL allow for no such distinctions.
Furthermore, the GPL makes it clear that all distributors of GPL’d software must stand together in the fight against software patents. Only by standing together do we stand a chance of defending against the peril represented by software patents. With this agreement Novell is attempting to destroy that unified defense, exchanging the long term interests of the entire Free Software community for a short term advantage for Novell over their competitors.
hi there said,
November 13, 2006 at 6:29 pm
Really, as I see it Microsoft and whoever else is in on this has a problem. That problem is obvious. The system of fixing a price for something and then expecting you to comply is coming to an end for them and they now have to get serious about doing something about it. They sent their lackey sco into it and they didn’t do too well. So now here we are. Their task, albeit ridiculous is to convince everyone else that they will crush them if they don’t accept their solution. Their solution is to take to their chosen ‘linux,’ suse. In this way, whatever secret agreements have been made are irrelevant but for one detail, the ‘rights’ that you now enjoy become sniveling ‘priveledges’ that you accept for doing business with Novell/Suse/Microsoft.
In this way, linux can be reconceptualized as something they understand how to control, build-up, and eventually kill. Linux as it is is not in that state currently and this makes it uncontrollable. Novell is just being what they would eventually have become anyway. They were a proprietary software company to begin with and they have much more invested in non-free software than they do free, hence their true methods and motives must sooner or later come to light.
Microsoft keeps their one monopoly, the desktop, for a while longer through FUD again, first through SCO, and now through Novell, lets see what/who happens in another 2-3 years.
symbolic-meditation said,
November 14, 2006 at 8:09 pm
Why not
http://www.boycottmicrosoft.com
in the first place?
I agree with the Samba team, and this move seems to me a trap for the whole F/OSS community.
But let also do some more constructive initiatives:
Lets begin some consumer guerrilla warfare by helping and educating our neighbours and relatives:
Speak with any one you appreciate who uses a computer about M$, their abusive business practices and the inferior quality of their products.
Teach them about the freedoms the GPL provides to the users and how some tech corporations, leaded by Microsoft are trying to deprive users from them.
Make sure they dont buy a new PC with Vista intalled for Christmas or afterwards, you can propose the shift to Linux as a cheaper way to renew their computer, educate them about forced obsoleteness and how Vista will consume more and more resources from their PC unnecesarily.
Finally offer help to them at removing the Windos virus from their computers and install and teach them how to use a flavor of linux you like: Ubuntu,Debian,Fedora,MEPIS…
Moreover teach them to do the same on their neighbours. Start a chain reaction.
Further the effects of your actions by joining or creating a local LUG, and doing regular install parties: Proposed motto: “Fix your PC for free and get rid of viruses, trojans, spyware: Bring your computer and get Linux installed: For free!!!…etc
more constructive ideas?
Best regards
IJ said,
November 15, 2006 at 3:17 pm
It’d be nice to get that domain, but it’s been squatted.
As for computers bought with Windows on them and suggesting the shift to Linux, I’d suggest taking the computer to the retailer with receipt in hand, ready to demonstrate that you will not accept Microsoft’s Windows tax, then seeing about getting a tax refund. If you can’t get the refund on the OS, I’d suggest returning the computer in its entirety, or exchanging it for parts to build a computer, but making sure you don’t get Windows. Harder to do with a laptop, though, I suspect.
darkstar said,
November 17, 2006 at 6:38 am
Way to go Samba team .. when will all the other projects speak out ??
These morons should pay for their actions.
If M$ dosent nail the coffin the users should.