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Welcome to virtuallinux.org. You are currently reading the article "Microsoft deal good for Linux - Novell SA chief". All articles on virtuallinux.org pertain to the ongoing assult on the worlds greatest Operating system. Continue on reading about "Microsoft deal good for Linux - Novell SA chief"
Microsoft deal good for Linux - Novell SA chief
Posted on Monday, December 11 2006 @ 06:31:01 EST by linuxwiz |
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More Linux companies should look at striking a
deal with Microsoft. This is the line from Novell SA country manager
Stafford Masie who was speaking at the CITI Foss Forum in Cape Town last week.
"This deal is not an exclusive arrangement with Microsoft. We are
encouraging Redhat, Ubuntu and others to consider a similar agreement
with Microsoft. We are encouraging them ... especially from a patent
perspective," said Masie.
"We encourage Shuttleworth and the folks to go and do what we've done.
Investigate what we've done. Don't be fanatical about it but take a
look at it," said Masie.
Masie said that the free software community should "embrace Microsoft".
"We should embrace Microsoft's participation in this community [and]
the way they are starting to be participants. Take a look at what they
have. Let's not alienate them. Let's not be fanatical about them," said
Masie before begging for similar tolerance of Novell from the free
software community.
The free software community was a "volatile, passionate group of
people" quick to criticise everything, said Masie. "Hopefully the
community will understand that Novell's intention with this agreement
is to benefit Linux."
"We got Microsoft to buy $240 million worth of Linux . That's 350 000
subscriptions of Linux they are going to distribute this worldwide and
they are actually doing this in the South African market place today.
They actually are. That is a good thing for Linux," said Masie.
"If we kill Linux Novell dies. We are not trying to kill Linux."
Software patents
It was on the issue of software patents, however, where Masie was a little less clear of exactly where Novell stood.
"We will never, never, ever utilise our patents to attack or exercise
any of our patents on the [Foss] community. The good thing about the
covenant is that we are explicitly stating our position with regards
patents. Customers don't like the cloud of risk of liability.
Enterprise customers don't like that risk. What we've done with
covenant is explicitly take away the risk," Masie said.
He then said: "Patents are actually bad for innovation. But we will use
patents to protect ourselves," while at the same time suggesting the
company would look to working with local initiatives working to oppose
software patents.
Masie said, however, that the company was aware that it was out of
touch with local patent conditions and that he started a process to
re-draft the company's position on software patents. "We need to look
at a Geo-based statement on patents. We concede, we should have been
more open about patents."
"We have an issue locally as we see Microsoft lodging patents locally. We don't want that," Masie said.
Source
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