"The FSF today launched a campaign with a twofold mission of exposing the harms inflicted on computer users by the new Microsoft Windows Vista and promoting free software alternatives that respect users' security and privacy rights. "Vista is an upsell masquerading as an upgrade. It is an overall regression when you look at the most important aspect of owning and using a computer: your control over what it does. Obviously MS Windows is already proprietary and very restrictive, and well worth rejecting. But the new 'features' in Vista are a Trojan Horse to smuggle in even more restrictions. We'll be focusing attention on detailing how they work, how to resist them, and why people should care", said FSF program administrator John Sullivan."
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Member since:2006-04-21
RedHat are the ones who are acting legally and honorably in this affair.
You mean the RedHat with its own patent portolio?
Which is defensive. As I've already explained.
If you're really interested in "honesty" and fair play, you should be applauding them and decrying both MS and Novell for acting...Microsoftily.
If Microsoft never signed cross-licensing deals with its competitors you might have a point.
But they do. And you don't.
This isn't about whether or not "MS never signed cross licensing deals with competitors". It's about whether they can do it to cross-licence GPL software to Novell to the exclusion of all others. Which they can't.
As for not having a point, maybe I'm picking up one of your bad habits?
Edited 2006-12-16 19:37
Member since:2005-07-22
Ok Mr NotParker,
RedHat do indeed have some patents. Their policy towards them is available for all to read and its in pretty good plain English (not overtly Legalese) here http://www.redhat.com/legal/patent_policy.html
To Quote.
Subject to any qualifications or limitations stated herein, to the extent any party exercises a Patent Right with respect to Open Source/Free Software which reads on any claim of any patent held by Red Hat, Red Hat agrees to refrain from enforcing the infringed patent against such party for such exercise ("Our Promise"). Our Promise does not extend to any software which is not Open Source/Free Software, and any party exercising a Patent Right with respect to non-Open Source/Free Software which reads on any claims of any patent held by Red Hat must obtain a license for the exercise of such rights from Red Hat.
So, RedHat says, you can use our patentable methods with a clear consience in your software as long as that Software is Open or Free Source.
I don't think they can be clearer than that. This IMHO is a very alturistic/honourable stance and clearly shows their intent wrt Software Patents.
On the other hand Microsoft will not tell us what patents that Linux violates except that it does.
Can you Mr NotParker honestly say the the Microsoft stance is more honest than that of RedHat?
With RH, you know where you stand. With Microsoft its pure FUD.
Member since:
2006-06-01
If Microsoft's lawyers are as good as...well, as good as they are, they know that the GPL isn't subject to this kind of agreement. Which is exactly why they have "skirted round it", as they have more or less admitted.
You mean the lawyers have crafted an agreement within the letter of the law and GPL if not in the "spirit" as defined by FOSS supporters?
RedHat are the ones who are acting legally and honorably in this affair.
You mean the RedHat with its own patent portolio?
If you're really interested in "honesty" and fair play, you should be applauding them and decrying both MS and Novell for acting...Microsoftily.
If Microsoft never signed cross-licensing deals with its competitors you might have a point.
But they do. And you don't.
Edited 2006-12-16 19:15