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Novell worries that GPL 3 could foil Microsoft pact
May 29, 2007 -
Windows-friendly desktop Linux launches
June 23, 2006
Over the next five years, the two companies said, they will work on improving interoperability between their servers to improve systems management.
The pact calls for Microsoft to provide patent covenants for Xandros customers that ensure they are not infringing on Microsoft's intellectual property, according to the companies.
Xandros will also ship software for desktop productivity applications that translates between the Open Document Format and OpenXML, which is Microsoft's own document format.
The agreement will make it easier for Xandros customers to run a mix of Xandros and Microsoft software, Andreas Typaldos, CEO of Xandros, said in a statement.
Typaldos could not definitively say whether anticipated changes in the General Public License, which governs the distribution of Linux, will affect the terms of Xandros' partnership with Microsoft. The most recent draft of the GPL version 3 includes provisions to prevent patent-sharing agreements like the one between Microsoft and Linux vendor Novell.
"Xandros is fully aware of the development of the GPLv3 license. We will remain focused in our efforts to address our customers' interoperability and IP needs in a mixed source environment, and will remain flexible so we can adjust to future developments," Typaldos said in an e-mail.
Microsoft said the deal is part of its strategy to partner with open-source firms, including Novell and Zend Technologies.
Xandros is a Debian-based Linux distribution for desktops and business servers.
See more CNET content tagged:
Xandros, Linux company, open-source company, GPL, Linux
Xandros on the other hand was a distro built to be as Windows-like as possible, so it actually makes sense that they'd go for it.
That said, Xandros is also a distro that is failing in popularity; few people use it, and outside of the Linux community, very few people even know what it is.
It all boils down to this: MSFT is trying to get some sort of credibility to their BS claims of patent infringement, but will never come right out and say so. Methinks they want to point at SuSE and Xandros and say "see? they've entered into agreements, so they agree that what we say is true!"
It also pisses off the more zealous of the Linux community, but that's about the sum total of its effect.
Problem is, Novell flat-out told MSFT that Redmond was full of it when it came to patent claims.
One other problem with MSFT's strategy: Ever notice how MSFT is the one doing all the check-writing in these deals? Nobody is paying MSFT for the 'license' (or whatever they're trying to call it).
Finally, once GPLv3 comes out, The entire playing field will change. There will be no 'TiVO' style loophole for MSFT. That is, there's no way for them to try and suck in Linux and GPL code, tuck it into TPM/DRM, and lock it down that way. This explains why GPLv3 makes MSFT rather nervous.
/P
How is this ongoing program to partner with open-source companies help Microsoft?
The IBM's Lotus Development Continuum (CODE-BASE "OPEN LOTUS SMARTSUITE") Anyone!
Once the threat is credible enough, tame and/or kill Linux. Either directly by raising prices on these deals, or indirectly via the development community (the Novell deal, at least, doesn't cover developers).
(b) The deals are mildly damaging to the Linux community in themselves, as people rail against them instead of doing productive work in the community.
microsoft wants to get it's code ( code that's unique ) into linux, so they can pull apart open source and kill it from within.
Xandros is their paid tunnel in.
anyone who thinks M$ cares about working with anyone on anything open source, had better put down the crack pipe and get help.
The next GPL will take care of any MS patent agreements, there will most likely be an exception letting Novell keep its deal, but this one won't be permitted under the new license. Xandros is dying, let them go.
Xandros is no Ubuntu, but it has an active and vibrant user community.
One thing led to another and soon Microsoft dominated the personal computer industry. IBM doesn't even make PCs anymore.
Could it be that one day MS won't even be making the foundations of its operating system, just like Apple does using a BSD foundation for Mac OS X?
WinLinux, here we come?
However, they don't need these sorts of agreements to use Linux. The GPL makes this possible.
The problem would be to force MS to honor the terms in the GPL.
What I am nervous about is just what kind of mean underhanded lowlife trick is Microsoft up to? I mean... well... you know... keeping the ignorant masses under their control with Vista. I have been using it for several months and I am still not happy with it. In short what I learned in a short time is just how much freedom I lost in using vista. I spend more time with the operating system then I do with creativity. It is hard to manage in comparsion to XP. Defrag leaves you in the dark saying "Trust me I know what I am doing" giving me no indication as to its progress. I DON'T LIKE THAT! Compressed file management is horribly slow. Just what is it doing anyway? No longer can you use screen textures for backgrounds like you could in XP. As I download files I have a hard time putting them where I want them. Where as in XP file management was very easy. I STILL DON'T HAVE OCR! Now if I down grade to XP Professional my OCR and other programs will work fine. Hmmmm...
Today you have two competing software companies. Apple and Microsoft. There where others but these where the important two. To the goverment that was okay. Now we have Linux. Linux can run on just about any box. It has many competing distros (Operating Systems). The goverment really likes that. No monoploy here. Various linux software will work with any distro. Apple and Microsoft can't do that. If one distro gets stupid or greedy, the people can use another distro. Its all common sense, linux is working and it is growing and it CAN'T BE STOPPED! Microsoft knows that and so doesn't Apple. Apple is now Apple Electronics and no longer Apple Computers. Microsoft is as of now creaming in their pants not knowing what to do. THE LINUX TSUNAMI CAN'T BE STOPPED. Oh they will try... But the will be assimulated, Resistence is futile! You soon will be buying XP and Vista in tag sales along with Macs.
I am not really a Linux user. I am writting this on a XP Pro computer. But I do see the light... soon I will have to get a Linux computer!
sharpen your knives and watch your back, M$ loves a fool
YOU CAN NOT TREAT PEOPLE LIKE DIRT FOREVER!
WATCHOUT FOR HIM 'LINUX' = A TRAPED RAT WILL GET REAL NASTY.
'LINUX' IS A THREAT TO HIS BANK ACCOUNT AND HE KNOWS IT.
HE HAS GOTEN USED TO "CONTROL", HE LOVES IT.
LOOK AT 'HUGO-CHAVEZ' = HE IS SHUTING DOWN THE TV STATIONS TO CONTROL THE PEOPLE.
MIZZ GATES TO FOLLOW IN HIS FOOT STEPS.
BAR THE DOOR, BILLY DONT DANCE WELL.
THEY ARE 'DEAD'.
MICROSCHITT/WAL-MART/JOHN-DEERE, ALL CORPORATE MONSTERS OF THEIR OWN DESIGN.
RULE, RAPE, CONTROL, OWN, KILL, $$$$$$, MORE MONEY, MORE CONTROL, WELCOME TO THE CORPORATE WORLD FANS.
ITS JUST LIKE AN ALIGATOR EATING HIS OWN TAIL =
A DAY OF RECKONING IS FORTHCOMING.
BILL GATES IS SCAIRT SCHITTLESS, WATCH HIM LINUX = HE DOESNT FIGHT FAIR.
Don't believe
me? Ahhhhh, who am I kidding, you already do.
So in the future linux will buil evrey 5 to 10 years instead of 6 months and become incredably bloated?
- Microsoft's Plan?
- by thedreaming June 7, 2007 10:27 AM PDT
- Is their plan to somehow control or own Linux Distributions? First they get in bed with Novell. They tell the whole world, "Novell Linux users don't have to be afraid of us, we won't sue you for using an operating system that violates our I.P." Now, they've hooked up with Xandros and are now saying, "Don't worry Xandros Linux users, you are safe from our wrath".
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(33 Comments)Is this Microsoft's plan? To buy into Open Source Companies and, somehow, own Open Source software?