Forgot your password?

typodupeerror

Comment: Re:What about Macs? (Score 1) 624

by Conan The Accountant (#20907609) Attached to: Countering the Arguments Against Unbundling Windows
I disagree, at this point the least that anybody has to do is ring Microsoft for the license. Laziness ensures that this will be the case. If you force the purchaser to insert the disc, and if you make the Linux disc "Live", enabling them to try the OS before installation, then there is a much stronger chance for the adoption of another operating system.
Patents

Final Draft of GPL3 Grants Novell a Free Pass

Submitted by
Kadin2048
Kadin2048 writes "According to an article at Ars, posted yesterday, the proposed final draft of the GPL3 will contain an exemption for Novell's pact with Microsoft. The "Novell clause" would allow Novell to continue using GPL3 code, by exempting 'selective-license' agreements entered into before March 28, 2007. Eben Moglen, Chairman of the Software Freedom Law Center, justified the change, saying "[the license] can do more to protect the community by allowing Novell to use software under GPL version 3 than by forbidding it to do so." The apparent crux of the FSF's position is that by allowing Novell to distribute GPL3 software, the patent agreements between Microsoft and Novell and their direct customers (those who bought 'vouchers'), would percolate down to all Linux users. However, this tactic could backfire, since "the [GPL3 downstream patent-conveyance] provision is only applicable when a patent is licensed to some parties. The actual text of the agreement between Microsoft and Novell — which was largely disclosed in Novell's recent SEC filing — reveals that the patent aspect of the deal consists exclusively of a covenant not to sue and does not actually involve any patent licensing at all." So it would seem that the FSF is gambling: giving Novell/Microsoft to distribute GPL3 software with the special exemption, and hoping that they can use this to their advantage later."

If you look good and dress well, you don't need a purpose in life. -- Robert Pante, fashion consultant

Working...