If I am not mistaken, the GPL requires distributors to make their SOFTWARE
available free of charge, not their NAME. NAME is what gives value to a
software product. It just looks like you as a reseller are going to have to
quit riding on their coattails and earn a little respect for your own name.
Frankly, I'm surprised to took this long for the major distros to come to this
decision.
On Thu, 02 Sep 1999, you wrote:
> ---------- Forwarded Message ----------
> Subject: Red Hat GPL No Longer Available
> Date: Wed, 1 Sep 1999 15:21:27 -0400
> From: "Robb Sands" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
>
> HELP!!
>
> I just got off the phone with Amazon.com and Red Hat.com Legal departments
> and guess what the hot-breaking-heart-breaking news is?
>
> You can no longer refer to Red Hat Linux GPL distribution using the words
> Red Hat. Now it has to be called "I wanna be Microsoft" or "anonymous linux
> 6.0" or something similar, since the Red Hat name can no longer appear on
> ANY GPL PRODUCTS or ads. That's right, the GPL distribution of Red Hat
> Linux can no longer be called Red Hat Linux, it now MUST have a new name.
> No more Red Hat GPL CD's, advertisements, support groups, netnews,
> nothing...
>
> I know this sounds incredibly unbelievable, but the Red Hat GPL distribution
> can no longer be advertised or labelled Red Hat, only the official boxed
> set. As a linux seller on Amazon.com, I (along with 100 other people) sell
> a GPL version of the distribution formerly known as Red Hat Linux GPL. We
> now will be required to say we are selling 'blah' Linux 6.0 and will have to
> remove any labelling on products referring to the GPL Linux Distribution.
>
> How will people know they are getting Red Hat Linux GPL if it can't carry
> the name? You guess, because I haven't a clue...
>
> Of course the legal counsel rep, and only person in the entire Red Hat
> organization who can respond, David Shumannfang, is currently on vacation
> and won't be available for a week (9-7-99). Basically we are all screwed
> and no one at Red Hat knows anything until his return, just lovely.
>
> This email is a plea for you to email [EMAIL PROTECTED] and voice your
> displeasure over Red Hat's new copyright policy requiring their GPL
> distribution to be called something other than Red Hat Linux GPL.
>
> I know this is off topic, so flame away, but it is an issue that AFFECTS ALL
> RED HAT LINUX USERS and POTENTIAL USERS.
>
> Robb Sands
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>
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--
Kenneth Archer + San Antonio, Texas
[EMAIL PROTECTED] ICQ #24980801
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