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OpenSUSE Adds to Novell's Hostility Towards the Free Software Foundation

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Summary: OpenSUSE community manager disagrees with RMS-style philosophy in practice

Novell's vice president Miguel de Icaza is daemonising Richard Stallman and the FSF. It turns out that he is not alone because the community manager of OpenSUSE is doing something similar at the moment.

Most people aren’t willing to embrace a “monastic” lifestyle on their computer. The RMS style philosophy of “if it’s not Free, I won’t do it,” isn’t going to get it done folks — try to have the conversation with the average user of how they should reject anything that’s non-free and hold out for a free equivalent.


We have already attempted to show that most people in the GNU/Linux world take Stallman's side (whether by adherence to Free software, i.e. action, or by mere respect for his leadership and message) and yesterday we showed a new poll about de Icaza. This poll now reveals a good majority labeling de Icaza a "traitor" (as Stallman did). Does Novell really want to position itself in opposition to the FSF? Novell's de Icaza works for Microsoft now. Who's next?

"Our partnership with Microsoft continues to expand."

--Ron Hovsepian, Novell CEO



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