[Gllug] Fwd: [opensuse] Invitation to OpenSUSE developers

[Daniel P. Berrange]

On Fri, Nov 24, 2006 at 06:30:20PM +0000, Peter Cannon wrote:
> ----------  Forwarded Message  ----------
> 
> Subject: [opensuse] Invitation to OpenSUSE developers
> Date: Friday 24 November 2006 18:16
> From: Mark Shuttleworth <mark at ubuntu.com>
> To: opensuse at opensuse.org, opensuse-project at opensuse.org
> 
> Novell???s decision to go to great lengths to circumvent the patent
> framework clearly articulated in the GPL has sent shockwaves through the
> community. If you are an OpenSUSE developer who is concerned about the
> long term consequences of this pact, you may be interested in some of
> the events happening next week as part of the Ubuntu Open Week:
> 
>   https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuOpenWeek
> 
> We are hosting a series of introductory sessions for people who want to
> join the Ubuntu community - in any capacity, including developers and
> package maintainers. If you want to find out how Ubuntu works, how to
> contribute or participate, or how to get specific items addressed, there
> will be something for you. I???ll also be on IRC on Tuesday 28th to answer
> any questions you may have of me specifically, such as Luis??? questions
> about our position on software patents at
> http://tieguy.org/blog/2006/11/22/and-ubuntus-patent-stand/

This is the same Ubuntu which has yet to make any public statement wrt
to their corporate position on software patents, whether pro or against.
The same Ubuntu which knowingly ships software which *is* patent 
encumbered - mp3 codecs; And priorietry binary only drivers which 
(arguably) violate the kernel licensing terms & certainly do not help
the development of open source drivers. If the IRC discussion with
Mark leads to an official statement of their position on patents, that
would be a good thing, but until I see actual deeds then I'm sceptical
about this being anything more than marketing troll.

I'm no fan of the Novell / M$ agreement, but in the past I could at
least respect Suse for supporting / joining the viewpoint that binary 
only drivers are harmful & committing not to ship them in SuSE distros.
At this time Ubuntu is just being cavalier on the whole issue of open
source & software freedom in the name of gaining market share. If that's
a road they want to take then fine, but they should explicitly say that
is their goal / stance.

Dan.
-- 
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