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Re: Novell-MS Pact: Samba Team calls upon Novell to work with the Softw
From: |
Alexander Terekhov |
Subject: |
Re: Novell-MS Pact: Samba Team calls upon Novell to work with the Software Freedom Law Center to undo the pact |
Date: |
Mon, 13 Nov 2006 10:05:01 +0100 |
http://news.samba.org/announcements/team_to_novell/
---------
Samba Team Asks Novell to Reconsider
The Samba Team disapproves strongly of the actions taken by Novell on
November 2nd.
One of the fundamental differences between the proprietary software
world and the free software world is that the proprietary software world
divides users by forcing them to agree to coercive licensing agreements
which restrict their rights to share with each other, whereas the free
software world encourages users to unite and share the benefits of the
software.
The patent agreement struck between Novell and Microsoft is a divisive
agreement. It deals with users and creators of free software differently
depending on their "commercial" versus "non-commercial" status, and
deals with them differently depending on whether they obtained their
free software directly from Novell or from someone else.
The goals of the Free Software community and the GNU GPL allow for no
such distinctions.
Furthermore, the GPL makes it clear that all distributors of GPL'd
software must stand together in the fight against software patents. Only
by standing together do we stand a chance of defending against the peril
represented by software patents. With this agreement Novell is
attempting to destroy that unified defense, exchanging the long term
interests of the entire Free Software community for a short term
advantage for Novell over their competitors.
For Novell to make this deal shows a profound disregard for the
relationship that they have with the Free Software community. We are, in
essence, their suppliers, and Novell should know that they have no right
to make self serving deals on behalf of others which run contrary to the
goals and ideals of the Free Software community.
Using patents as competitive tools in the free software world is not
acceptable. Novell, as a participant in numerous debates, discussions
and conferences on the topic knew this to be the case. We call upon
Novell to work with the Software Freedom Law Center to undo the patent
agreement and acknowledge its obligations as a beneficiary of the Free
Software community.
---------
regards,
alexander.
- Re: Novell-MS Pact: "why not?" says Linus, (continued)
- Re: Novell-MS Pact: "why not?" says Linus, Alexander Terekhov, 2006/11/09
- Re: Novell-MS Pact: "precariously to developers who work in a vacuum" and EASTERBROOK, Alexander Terekhov, 2006/11/09
- Re: Novell-MS Pact: Mono blah-blah, Alexander Terekhov, 2006/11/10
- Re: Novell-MS Pact: Mono blah-blah, David Kastrup, 2006/11/10
- Re: Novell-MS Pact: Mono blah-blah, Alexander Terekhov, 2006/11/10
- Re: Novell-MS Pact: Mono blah-blah, David Kastrup, 2006/11/10
- Re: Novell-MS Pact: Novell opens legal books to GPL pundits, Alexander Terekhov, 2006/11/10
- Re: Novell-MS Pact: "It's hard for corporate entities to really grasp the GPL. It's a learning process", Alexander Terekhov, 2006/11/10
- Re: Novell-MS Pact: Novell opens legal books to GPL pundits, Alexander Terekhov, 2006/11/10
- Re: Novell-MS Pact: Novell opens legal books to GPL pundits, Alexander Terekhov, 2006/11/10
- Re: Novell-MS Pact: Samba Team calls upon Novell to work with the Software Freedom Law Center to undo the pact,
Alexander Terekhov <=
- Re: Novell-MS Pact: "We will change the law such that ... we will reverse the legal consequences of this deal" says Eben, Alexander Terekhov, 2006/11/16
- Re: Novell-MS Pact: SFLC's arrangement with Novell?, Alexander Terekhov, 2006/11/20
- Re: Novell-MS Pact: "Free, well that means stuff you don't pay for... and we can never go bankrupt because we have no business to lose" says Eben, Alexander Terekhov, 2006/11/21
- Re: Novell-MS Pact: "Free, well that means stuff you don't pay for... and we can never go bankrupt because we have no business to lose" says Eben, rjack, 2006/11/21
- Re: Novell-MS Pact: "Moglen misquoted by Reuters" says PJ-groklaw's subscriber "nb", Alexander Terekhov, 2006/11/21
- Re: Novell-MS Pact: "intentional interference with contractual relations" comes to Esq. Mettler's mind, Alexander Terekhov, 2006/11/24
- Re: Novell-MS Pact: "Microsoft remains committed to its interoperability agreement with JBoss", Alexander Terekhov, 2006/11/24
- Re: Novell-MS Pact: The dot-com fraud^Wbubble multi-millionaire Welcomes OpenSUSE Developers!, Alexander Terekhov, 2006/11/24
- Re: Novell-MS Pact: former Lessig's student Matt can't grok the deal... "it all just doesn't add up", Alexander Terekhov, 2006/11/25
- Re: Novell-MS Pact: [Counter-invitation] The dot-com fraud^Wbubble multi-millionaire Welcomes OpenSUSE Developers!, Alexander Terekhov, 2006/11/27