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Re: Oracle's GNU/linux distro is out. Free Software is blindsided.
From: |
David Kastrup |
Subject: |
Re: Oracle's GNU/linux distro is out. Free Software is blindsided. |
Date: |
Sun, 05 Nov 2006 21:30:15 +0100 |
User-agent: |
Gnus/5.11 (Gnus v5.11) Emacs/22.0.50 (gnu/linux) |
"Karen Hill" <karen_hill22@yahoo.com> writes:
> I was browsing oracle's website when I discovered a link to oracle's
> new GNU/linux distro.
>
> http://edelivery.oracle.com/EPD/GetUserInfo/get_form?caller=LinuxWelcome
>
> It looks like Redhat is being squeezed from all sides. OpenSolaris on
> one end, with Novell and MS on the other, and Oracle undercutting their
> support pricing by basically rebranding Redhat's products and selling
> it as their own. It looks like an organized effort by proprietary
> vendors to basically cut the throat of Redhat. As we know, Redhat is a
> major contributer to the linux kernel.
>
> Maybe now is the time for GNU/Hurd? The problem with the linux kernel
> is that it is not going to be as free as software licensed under the
> GPL 3. Linus has stated that the kernel will remain at GPL 2, which
> is less free than the GPL 3 because of DRM and patents.
Correction: which is _more_ free than the GPL 3 because of DRM and
patents. It is just that these particular freedoms can be used for
creating nominally GPLed software where the freedom to modify has
become a sham.
GPL 3 is less free than GPL 2, with the end result that code licensed
under it might retain freedom in more situations than under GPL 2.
It is, like the GPL 2, a compromise and tradeoff.
> Yet, the GPL 3 is very myopic license. It shows a lack of vision by
> the FSF, maybe they are tiring or need new leadership. They are
> fighting the previous wars and do not understand the next battle at
> all.
Well, Mr. Flatfish, now you are going fud again. The FSF is rather
preparing for the future problems and people scoff at them because
they don't see the same sort of problems. I wish the FSF would be
wrong more often in the long run than they, unfortunately, turn out to
be.
--
David Kastrup, Kriemhildstr. 15, 44793 Bochum