11.27.06
DO NOT Buy, Use or Redistribute SUSE
As RMS and others have been pointing out, the loophole for Novell in this deal is that MS is giving their patent offer to Novell’s customers (the actual wording is those copies for which Novell has received revenue, with a definition to include upgrades). So, as a Novell Customer you enjoy the benefits of the MS Patent Pledge as a result of Novell’s deal with Microsoft. Great for you, but one problem: you may not be able to redistribute GPL code now.
Think about it, if Section 7 doesn’t apply to Novell since they are not receiving the patent covenant – but the customers who are receiving it. By supporting Novell, you accept these new conditions imposed by Microsoft, you may not be able to simultaneously adhere to the MS Patent Pledge and the conditions of the GPL, since any distribution outside of giving back to OpenSUSE.org is disallowed by the MS Patent Pledge.
Novell customers may have to thank Novell for entering into this agreement with Microsoft on their behalf, their little loophole for attempting to circumvent the GPL. Eben Moglen says that not Novell but its customers may be violating the GPL if they redistribute the software:
[If] the patent license Microsoft has granted to Novell customers only extends to Novell customers, then Novell customers cannot redistribute the software freely. According to Moglen, this may violate the terms of the license.
The community needs to turn its back on Novell and SUSE, DO NOT USE, BUY, REDISTRIBUTE or HOST NOVELL or SUSE. Boycott Novell.
Please, as I have stated before, do not think that I have any animous towards the folks in the OpenSUSE community, just get a new name and website (you can keep the code, it’s GPL).
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blazer said,
November 28, 2006 at 1:14 pm
FUCK YOU, RETARD!
Roy Schestowitz said,
November 28, 2006 at 1:47 pm
Blazer, care to explain why?
shane said,
November 28, 2006 at 1:56 pm
Now, now. We don’t care for language like that in these parts. Please refrain from using the term “you” going forward.
Thank you.
shane said,
November 28, 2006 at 1:58 pm
Oh dear, now ive gone and said you.
Oh, no! I said you again!
Nee! Nee! Nee!
Dan said,
November 28, 2006 at 2:42 pm
Sounds right to me. I am making sure everyone I know who thinks of suse to reconsider.
I was really worried for a while after novel bought suse (novel screwed up anything they put their hands on after netware) but then I thought they were making the right moves with an open source mind, I guess they are back to the old novel.
Gravis said,
November 28, 2006 at 7:48 pm
is it just me or is this article FUD?
Adam said,
April 8, 2007 at 11:07 am
Ah, the smell of FUD in the morning.
shane said,
April 8, 2007 at 11:39 am
Smells like victory.
Roy Schestowitz said,
April 8, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Yes, and in retrospect (this is an old BN post), Novell’s attempt to hide the truth with surveys and apologies was unsuccessful. I am aware of bloggers and journalists who read this Web site, and their writings reflect what they fortunately know.
If you find holes in our arguments, please make the necessary corrections or point out the problems rather than just call “FUD”, or sometimes even nitpick. Too many people dismiss the Web site, without at all being specific.
J2theMFC said,
April 29, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Microsoft is rtarted, honestly. If they try to get their greedy Mittens of opensource software they will get great big fuck you from everyone kekekekeke.
So what is SUSE dies – everyone will just use PClinuxOs or ubuntu,