On Saturday 04 Jul 2009 15:56:00 Pravin Dhayfule wrote: > Hi Folks, > > One of my friend was arguing me that RED HAT is superior to any of the > FREELY available Linux Distro as it provides Support (although in form of > Subscriptions). > > However I told him that he can get free community support for many other > free distros and more over they are Open Source. > > Now for this he said that Red Hat too is open Source, and he has got one > installed in his home through a CD provided by his institute where he is > studying REHL. > > I asked him, whether he needed to enter Serial Key like Windows, he replied > no, but he wont be able to use their support. So I told him that he is > using a PIRATED version of LINUX. HE said yes. > > I went ahead to cross check Red Hat License Agreement, and saw it to be > similar to Microsoft's EULA that states, you cannot install it on more > computers than the licensed purchased for etc. > Secondly if the Subscription expires, the OS will no longer be Legal until > its renewed (similar to Norton Anti Virus) > > So my question is... Can Red Hat enterprise products be really considered > as Open Source (as their website claims) > http://investors.redhat.com/index.cfm *Red Hat is the world's leading open > source provider. Bringing the choice, collaboration, cost savings and value > of open source to enterprises worldwide. Solutions include our Red Hat > Enterprise Linux operating platforms, JBoss Enterprise Middleware and other > Red Hat enterprise technologies. > * > I am a bit confused on this argument... When we refer to Open Source > philosophy, it says "FREEDOM", but REHL EULA looks similar to Microsoft > EULA, then is also Red Hat play a role in giving rise to "PIRATED LINUX" > race?
Hi Praveen, There was a discussion on iLUG-Delhi on similar lines, on which LFY ran a story by compiling the inputs from the mailing list and posing some questions to the official RH India spokesperson then... Here I reproduce the complete QnA: ------------------------------- Q: Although we’re aware of free (as in beer) RHEL alternatives like CentOS, what if I opt to use RHEL without buying a subscription? Is that 'legally' possible? A: RHEL is open source software governed by GPL licensing. As per the GPL terms it is freely available on the Internet for download and use. Since this would be free download without subscription, it would not cover any support, updates or any of the benefits that a subscription would entitle. Once the subscription period ends, unless it is renewed again, the service support ceases. However, the customer can still continue using the product. One thing I’d like to bring fourth for subscribers is that Red Hat extends the Red Hat Open Source Assurance program, which safeguards customers who are developing and deploying open source solutions from legal harm. You can get more information about the purchase and usage of the RHEL subscription for India in Section 3.1 and Section 5 of the Enterprise Agreement [www.redhat.com/licenses/Enterprise_Agr_India.pdf]. Q. Let’s assume I’ve been an RHEL subscriber. I then choose to discontinue it, well aware that I won’t get security updates (having already made up my mind to get the security updates from CentOS repositories). So, as per you, I can still keep RHEL on the system? A: Yes, this is one of the important benefits to the customer where he can continue using RHEL but, at the same time, he would lose the advantage of Red Hat support ecosystem. Q. I understand that RH artwork and logos are trademarked by Red Hat Inc. Does that stop me from freely sharing a copy with my friends like I do in the case of Fedora? A: The Red Hat artwork and logo are trademarked and cannot be used freely. Yes, the code can be shared, but it cannot be duplicated with the Red Hat logo. Q. Can you elaborate on the trademark policies in laymen’s terms? Essentially, what are the dos and don’ts? A: The trademark and logo are completely owned by Red Hat and any use would be illegal. ------------------------ Guess that solves your query on the restrictions imposed by RHEL. As for your friend's institute distributing RHEL DVDs/CDs, well, I guess, they comes as part of the RH certification courses. And no, it's not pirated. Best, Atanu -- http://mm.glug-bom.org/mailman/listinfo/linuxers
