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Re: GPLv3 comedy unfolding -- Bentley: "Here We Go Again: Microsoft Inks
From: |
Alexander Terekhov |
Subject: |
Re: GPLv3 comedy unfolding -- Bentley: "Here We Go Again: Microsoft Inks Deal with Xandros" |
Date: |
Tue, 05 Jun 2007 14:30:46 +0200 |
http://www.itbusinessedge.com/blogs/osb/?p=156
------
Here We Go Again: Microsoft Inks Deal with Xandros
Posted by Lora Bentley on June 4, 2007 at 4:32 pm
As we pointed out earlier today, News.com says Microsoft has a new
agreement. Whats the big deal? There isnt one, really unless you
consider that the other party to the agreement is Ottowa-based Linux
distributor Xandros. And the terms are similar to those in Microsofts
controversial agreement with Novell including the covenant not to sue.
Yes, you read that correctly, and no, you shouldnt be surprised.
Despite the prohibition in the last call draft of the GNU General Public
License v3, Microsoft and Xandros have entered into a collaboration
agreement that includes patent protection. Because it was effective
after March 28, 2007, the agreement puts in jeopardy Xandros right to
distribute software that is released under GPL v3.
Why would any company deliberately defy license terms? Because it can.
Wed imagine that Microsofts pockets are deep enough that it couldnt
care less about legal action that might arise because of the agreement.
In fact, as this InformationWeek piece
[http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=199900828]seems
to suggest, it may be that Microsoft wants to challenge the license in
court.
If the Free Software Foundation thought changing the license terms to
prevent more Microsoft-Novell agreements would end the matter, it was
wrong. It seems that Eben Moglen and other free software attorneys will
be busy for quite some time.
------
regards,
alexander.
--
"I can change the rules."
Herr Prof Eben
http://www.linux.com/blob.pl?id=796772290d97058074d8c909e3dde1eb
- Re: GPLv3 comedy unfolding -- vnunet: "GPL3 author calls for open source solidarity", Alexander Terekhov, 2007/06/05
- Re: GPLv3 comedy unfolding -- Bentley: "Here We Go Again: Microsoft Inks Deal with Xandros",
Alexander Terekhov <=
- Re: GPLv3 comedy unfolding -- Bentley: "Here We Go Again: Microsoft Inks Deal with Xandros", rjack, 2007/06/05
- Re: GPLv3 comedy unfolding -- Linspire: "GPLv3 - Unforseen Consequences?", Alexander Terekhov, 2007/06/06
- Re: GPLv3 comedy unfolding -- Linspire: "GPLv3 - Unforseen Consequences?", Alexander Terekhov, 2007/06/06
- Re: GPLv3 comedy unfolding -- Linspire: "GPLv3 - Unforseen Consequences?", Rui Miguel Silva Seabra, 2007/06/06
- Re: GPLv3 comedy unfolding -- Linspire: "GPLv3 - Unforseen Consequences?", Ciaran O'Riordan, 2007/06/07
- Message not available
- Re: GPLv3 comedy unfolding -- Linspire: "GPLv3 - Unforseen Consequences?", Alexander Terekhov, 2007/06/08
- Re: GPLv3 comedy unfolding -- SYS-CON: "Microsoft Spits in GPL Creator Richard Stallman's Eye", Alexander Terekhov, 2007/06/08
- Re: GPLv3 comedy unfolding -- InformationWeek: "Microsoft Strikes Linux Patent Deal With LG Electronics", Alexander Terekhov, 2007/06/08
- Re: GPLv3 comedy unfolding -- InformationWeek: "Microsoft Strikes Linux Patent Deal With LG Electronics", Ciaran O'Riordan, 2007/06/08
- Re: GPLv3 comedy unfolding -- InformationWeek: "Pick Your Open Source Poison: Microsoft's Patent Claims Or GPLv3", Alexander Terekhov, 2007/06/09