08.08.07
Ron Hovsepian Apparently Gives the Nod to Microsoft Patent Deals, Gets Red Hat Angered
Ron Hovsepian gave a talk at LinuxWorld. While most press coverage remains focused on consolidation and covergence aspects, the following important part is equally noteworthy.
In the same vein, the Novell CEO praised proprietary software companies for jumping on the Linux bandwagon, including Oracle’s leap into the Linux distribution support market — based on a variation of Novell rival Red Hat — and even Microsoft’s additional deals with Linux distributors Linspire and Xandros.
Oh, dear. That’s a mouthful. It is not an exact quote, of course, but let’s dissect:
- “…praised proprietary software companies for jumping on the Linux bandwagon…” — IOW, Free software isn’t quite so important to Novell anymore.
- “…[praised] Oracle’s leap into the Linux distribution support market…” — IOW, Novell supports companies that steal another company’s business by making copycats, halving the support fares, and sucking money out of someone else’s labour.
- “…[Unbreakable is] based on a variation of Novell rival Red Hat…” — IOW, changing a logo and some bits of artwork make a true variation. Not bad for a multi-billion-dollar company, which yesterday issued press releases to boast contribution to the kernel.
- “…and even [endorse/praise] Microsoft’s additional deals with Linux distributors Linspire and Xandros…” — IOW, Novell might as well invite all Linux distributors to strike deals with Microsoft, patent licensing included.
Red Hat was not too impressed by Ron’s presentation, but for other reasons.
A call by Novell’s CEO for a standardized way to certify Linux applications Wednesday was subsequently greeted with skepticism by a high-ranking official at rival Linux distributor Red Hat.
Ian said,
August 9, 2007 at 10:55 am
I’m not quite sure why he would praise the Linspire and Xandros deals, because they really have nothing going for them. At least you could argue that the Novell deal gets Linux into the hands of admins at Microsoft only shops regardless of the morality issues with the whole patent agreement.
By the way, skepticism != anger. Just a heads up.
Sam Hiser said,
August 9, 2007 at 11:48 am
Hovsepian is twisting language, meaning & context the way Microsoft does.
That’s just plain weird…as well as irksome.
Ian’s point, above, is a good one — but doesn’t somehow make one feel much better about the dishonesty embedded in The Embrace.
The overarching mode, however, of Microsoft having to cope with Free Software gives much to be pleased about, as this unusually FUD-less piece from the Dell Linux strategists indicates.
Roy Schestowitz said,
August 9, 2007 at 12:26 pm
Ian, you’re right. I didn’t read the Red Hat article carefully.
Sam, I have more language twisting examples that I will post tomorrow. I have piles of stories, but I need to sort them and add some text to have them aligned sensibly.