12.25.06

What is Circumventing the Spirit of the GPL Worth?

Posted in Deals, Finance, GPL, Law, Novell at 8:48 pm by Shane Coyle

$350,000 (US)

According to an 8-K filing by Novell, that is the additional compensation awarded to Novell General counsel and Sr VP Joseph A LaSala Jr.

On December 12, 2006, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Novell, Inc. made a cash award to Joseph A. LaSala, Jr., Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Novell, outside of the previously disclosed Annual Bonus Program for Executives. The award of $350,000 was made in recognition of exceptional contributions made by Mr. LaSala.

Here is Mr LaSala’s take on the Microsoft-Novell deal:

In particular, LaSala continued, "Many people want to know whether this agreement is compatible with Novell’s obligations under the GPL, especially section 7. This was an important consideration for us as well."

"Under the patent cooperation agreement, Novell’s customers receive directly from Microsoft a covenant not to sue. Novell does not receive a patent license or covenant not to sue from Microsoft, and we have not agreed with Microsoft to any condition that would contradict the conditions of the GPL.

"Our agreement does not affect the freedom that Novell or anyone else in the open source community, including developers, has under the GPL and does not impose any condition that would contradict the conditions of the GPL. Therefore, the agreement is fully compliant with the GPL," concluded LaSala.

Fully compliant with the GPL? Perhaps to a lawyer, but to developers and community members, not at all.

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More News of Novell Expanding its Efforts in Asia

Posted in Boycott Novell at 11:55 am by Shane Coyle

Recently, rumors regarding Novell’s plans for acquiring or partnering with Linux companies in China and Asia were circulating, and now there is talk of Novell expanding its developer team in Asia as well.

One of the key challenges facing Mr Koster is to leverage the limited number of people that Novell has in the region, to grow its business. Novell currently has about 700 staff in the Asia-Pacific region, of which 300 are involved in development work in its software development centres in China and India.

‘The plan is to add another 300 staff to the development team,’ said Mr Koster. ‘We will also be expanding our presence in Singapore in the form of setting up more training and briefing centres in the coming year.’

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