Some more reactions to the Novell-Microsoft deal. Firstly, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said his company is open to talking to other Linux distributors about reaching mutual patent coverage deals similar to the agreement signed Nov. 2 with Novell. Secondly, according to Red Hat, this deal means that 'Linux has won', while also saying they would never make such an agreement with Microsoft: "An innovation tax is unthinkable. Free and open source software provide the necessary environment for true innovation. Innovation without fear or threat. Activities that isolate communities or limit upstream adoption will inevitably stifle innovation." More reactions here and here. Update: Another response from Red Hat. In one year's time, a Red Hat general counsil said, Red Hat will be the only Linux commercial vendor left standing, Microsoft support or not.
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Member since:2005-07-06
I guess you don't have to be Einstein to conclude that what the Microsoft-Novell news (coming on top of the Oracle news) means for Red Hat is one thing: trouble.
In what way? It's bad news for Novell, because unknown to them, Microsoft now effectively owns their customers.
Member since:2006-01-12
I guess you don't have to be Einstein to conclude that what the Microsoft-Novell news (coming on top of the Oracle news) means for Red Hat is one thing: trouble.
I don't see how the situation for RH has changed: They were always under the threat of MS patent law suit. While some may argue that this deal validates MS' patent claims, Novell is one out of hundreds of distributions. Besides, it's not like MS is in a position to sue RH (considering the ongoing antitrust law suits)
Now RH customers will get the additional benefit of indemnification, which puts RH's offerings on par with Novell's (if not better).
Member since:2006-07-04
Putting the patent stuff aside for a moment, what's changed for RH is that MS and Novell are going to be actively recommending Windows/SuSe to companies with mixed Windows/Linux environments. MS is even going to sell SuSE via coupons of some sort. And they're going to work together to greatly improve interoperability between Windows and SuSe, making that combination all the more attractive to corps with mixed systems.
Member since:2005-09-10
There is a joint letter to the open source community at novell:
http://www.novell.com/linux/microsoft/openletter.html
Sounds cool, but. There is this line:
"More importantly, Microsoft announced today that it will not assert its patents against individual, non-commercial developers."
Now, this is emphasized multiple times. Note the "individual, non-commercial developers." This is really-really nasty. Some of the key kernel developers are developed by commercial companies, like RedHat for instance, so it appears that the agreement doesn't cover Alan Cox for instance.
This is a sad day for Free Software - we thought Oracle is bad? Well, they are kinda nasty, but they don't come even close to what Novell did today. The open source community is rightfully outraged at this (read Kurt Pfeifle's blog here: http://www.planetkde.org/).
And yes, as you put it - this is about RedHAT, and zdnet's title is accurate. Only this time, you don't even have to think up conspiracy theories. Free software and specifically, linux distributions competed on two grounds: technical merit and quality of support. Novell now raised the patent flag. Whether or not MS goes after other commercial distributions doesn't really matter, because this announcment alone has created... well, FUD. I don't like the acronym, because it is overused, but it is apt for the situation. The moment this announcment was made, immediately suggested that there might be patent problems with Free Software distributions, except non-commercial ones, and of course, Novel. This is bad. How do you define commercial anyway? Is Canonical a commercial entity? Of course it is... so, what about Ubuntu? I don't imply that they will be attacked by MS - the fact that you have to ask these questions now is damaging enough.
Member since:
2005-11-05
I guess you don't have to be Einstein to conclude that what the Microsoft-Novell news (coming on top of the Oracle news) means for Red Hat is one thing: trouble.
I like the headline about Microsoft-Novell in a Zdnet article which said "Fox marries chicken, both to live in henhouse". Sums things up nicely, perhaps.