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).
Comments
blazer
2006-11-28 18:14:29
Roy Schestowitz
2006-11-28 18:47:00
shane
2006-11-28 18:56:56
Thank you.
shane
2006-11-28 18:58:32
Oh, no! I said you again!
Nee! Nee! Nee!
Dan
2006-11-28 19:42:01
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
2006-11-29 00:48:16
Adam
2007-04-08 16:07:12
shane
2007-04-08 16:39:47
Roy Schestowitz
2007-04-09 03:18:39
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
2007-04-29 22:11:29
So what is SUSE dies - everyone will just use PClinuxOs or ubuntu,