On Thursday 09 July 2009, Pravin Dhayfule wrote: > Relax Folks, > > I never thought that my simple questions would lead to such a huge debate. > > My questions were very simple. > > And I got the answer too through these discussions. > > So I have come to this point (please correct me if am wrong or > misinterpreted) > > 1. Just like Microsoft, Red Hat has a per machine License system (thats > what its EULA specifies I suppose). This has nothing to do with trade mark, > copyright etc etc. but Violation of EULA
Wrong. > > 2. Copying RH from the original CD This is ambiguous as far as trademarks go. There is no copyright violation however. > (or using the same CD) and installing > it on another Machine for which the License payment has not be done is > similar to installing Windows from original or (copied CD) on to other > unlicensed systems. This is refered to as Piracy I suppose. Wrong. You can install from the original to as many machines as you wish. > > 3. On the machines without License, users cant get access to Microsoft > Updates (including security, service packs, Internet Explorer, Media > Player, etc.) as the MS website checks for Genuineness of the installed > Windows. So if a user wants those premium facilities, then he/she will have > to obviously pay for that in form of License thats what is referred to as > Subscriptions in terms of Red Hat where the User needs to pay for support > and upgrades. Sort of. You can download the upgrades from their website anyway. But you cant get support. > > 4. Microsoft I have heard visits its clients (corporates) to audit whether > they have installed their products on systems exceding than those permitted > in the EULA, if found then the clients are Fined. There is a similar clause > in Red Hat EULA (discussed in earlier threads). Yes. > > So from a Regular (Desktop) End User perspective I can understand that > Microsoft:Windows and Red Hat:Linux Not at all. > > Although we dont have an option of FREE Windows, we though have option for > FREE Linux alternatives like Debian, CentOS, Fedora, Ubuntu, Open Suse, > etc. RH is free. As a user you are guaranteed certain rights under various FLOSS licences. Those rights do not go away just because RH says so. -- Rgds JTD -- http://mm.glug-bom.org/mailman/listinfo/linuxers
