OSNews

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Which will effectively eliminate the ability for companies like IBM or Intel to develop and distribute GPL software as well.
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WTF? How do you figure? Novell is effectively trying to take exclusive control of a public resource, how is IBM trying to do that? Novell is telling the world that only Novell's Linux distro is legal, use any other distro, and Ballmer can sue you. Where is IBM saying that? What cross-license linux deal is IBM involved in, that is similiar to the novl/msft deal?


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There's no way they can single out the Novell agreement without impacting all commercial organizations that engage in cross-licensing deals.
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Please give an example of such a deal that you consider
similar to the msft/novl deal

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Not a single point you've made is relevant; instead, let's look at what is: Novell has stated on the record that the agreement does not concern patent attributable code in any GPL software. MS, despite their best efforts to the contrary, has not been able to refute that.
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The deal is obviously about patents "on the record" novell is now back-peddling. But the facts speak for themselves.

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Yes, MS and Novell entered an agreement together and no, it does not directly relate to GPL licensed software. Moglen, BTW, had access to the documentation under NDA and he confirmed there's nothing implying GPL violations in the agreement.
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Last time I checked, Linux was GPL software. How could the deal not apply to GPL'd software?

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What business does the community have demanding that MS and Novell be forthcoming about the terms on the contract?
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Because msft is threating the commuinity with lawsuits, and because novell is trying to steal linux from the community? If I'm wrong about that, then what's the reaon for the big secret?

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Er, Suse is the #2 commercial distro. It has an established paying user base. It is one of only two versions of linux supported by the largest linux companies and hardware vendors.
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But most Linux users don't use a commercial distro. And SuSE is a distant 2nd place to Redhat.

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Who are the linux "heavyweights"?
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Moglen and RMS, not sure if PJ would qualify - although she does have some influence.

>>IBM? HP? They have no problem with the agreement. They sell Suse. They're quite happy with it.<<

They have not spoken out against publically. It would be bad PR, since they have already sold SuSE. But, I am not sure that they are "quite happy with it."