07.20.07
Kevin Carmony Responds, Linspire on Permanent Feature Freeze for GPLv3 Software
It appears as though Mr. Carmony decided to defend his position and shed some light on the pressing issues. Speaking to DesktopLinux, he explains where things stands. You can read the whole conversation which contains some dross and marketing drivel, but one one part which stands out is this:
“As for the GPLv3, our agreement [with Microsoft] was designed to incorporate and be flexible around this new license. (No coupons, etc.),” concluded Carmony.
All righty! In other words, Kevin seems to confirm that his distribution is intended and bound to stay stuck in GPLv2 (2007). He confirms that he deal with Microsoft had this provision. He confirms, for example, that no longer will his product incorporate changes made to Samba (however critical they might be). This was not a smart business move. Novell could at least argue that it would continue to distribute and deliver GPLv3-licensed software to its clients (working around Microsoft).
Matt Hartley has just published a short piece which might as well demonstrate the fact that any Linux distributor that enters negotiations with Microsoft is simply committing suicide. The author also explains the absurdity of such moves.
These companies were given access to thousands of man hours worth of code and software, and they repay this kindness by outwardly betraying the license that made this possible for them in the first place.
I would replace the word “thousands” with “millions”. The cost of developing Debian (had it been built in a commercial setting) is flabbergasting. Reports have been put together to show this.
Hopefully, at the end of the day, someone is at least counting some cash and planning a one-way journey to Maui. It’s neither the users nor the developers.
Remember Pamela’s analogy? Selling your mother’s blood?
Highlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. 
Highlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. 
Highlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. 
Highlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. 
Highlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. 
Analysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy.
Rickie Stallman said,
July 21, 2007 at 12:10 am
So Shitsnowitz, when are you going to stop spamming USENET, Digg and Netscape?
Roy Schestowitz said,
July 21, 2007 at 12:27 am
Care to identify yourself, “gplistheft@microsoft.biz @ ip68-231-58-143.ph.ph.cox.net” ? Or would you rather make void and false accusations anonymously?
Rickie Stallman said,
July 22, 2007 at 1:33 am
Do you like this IP better Shitsnowitz?
Rickie Stallman said,
July 22, 2007 at 1:37 am
Or maybe this one Shitsnowitz!
But to get back to my original question, are you going to stop spamming COLA and other USENET forums, as well as Digg? Or what?
Rickie Stallman said,
July 22, 2007 at 1:45 am
Shitsnowitz rocks!
Jose said,
July 24, 2007 at 12:58 am
I don’t interpret the comment as meaning they will avoid GPLv3 [it would be nice if they did]. I think it means that Microsoft and Linspire are dealing around the GPL3. Maybe Microsoft can’t get what they would like exactly, but they can probably still charge Linspire for Linux sales (or for something.. or ..keep reading). If MS doesn’t help sell Linspire distros, MS can still help Linspire in some other way, and Linspire would scratch MS’s back in yet some other way. Look at the Scalix situation. Maybe MS is simply opening doors for free allowing Novell and co to take whatever profits they can get (when the contract comes up for renegotiation, things would change of course). In fact, MS already benefits by appearing to work with Linux. MS benefits with people getting hooked on MS tech. MS benefits if they can close off potential bridges away from MS (the competition bought out and put to pasture) or by eventually charging a toll through the few remaining access points. As Gates said of Chinese piracy [paraphrased]: let them have for free today what they will then be willing to pay for tomorrow. I hope in the end MS ends up with a perfectly fortified and locked down kingdom but no inhabitants.
Anyway, the best thing is to motivate people to leave Windows altogether and with it all Window-ish things. For that we have to keep improving Linux and keep letting people know what Microsoft is about. I think we should also help build interesting media in open formats. Let’s get people to wonder what they have to download to be able to see/hear some cool ogg X material.
Imagine if you configured a Linux live CD specially for someone you know. They would probably want to reuse that CD frequently. It has a certain coolness factor. Also, as motivation, you can keep the base distro updated with new apps or with something the person likes. The idea being to offer them something they like that you can’t get on Windows. Get them to help you build it for them (by giving you preferences). Build a business. Automate the process and grow out. ??? Profit. [There are alternatives to a plain CD.. I used that for illustrative purposes.]
Roy Schestowitz said,
July 24, 2007 at 1:41 am
All very fine point. Just for the record, here is the quote from Gates:
,—-[ Quote ]
| …Bill Gates, citing China as an example, said:
|
| “Although about 3 million computers get sold every year in China, but
| people don’t pay for the software,” he said. “Someday they will, though.
| As long as they are going to steal it, we want them to steal ours.
| They’ll get sort of addicted, and then we’ll somehow figure out how to
| collect sometime in the next decade.”
`—-
http://www.cybersource.com.au/press/gates_set_to_addict_next_billion.html