Okies, here's my short comment on this issue:
1. Berni, you work for non profits, so do I. The license says:
"You may make and use unlimited copies of the Software for Your
distribution and use within Your Organization."
I say: Get someone from that non profit to download OpenSUSE for use
within their organization. You will provide the additional value added
services that will allow them to make proper use of OpenSUSE. It's a
simple business model that I realize you guys have failed to think of.
In my opinion it falls very nicely under the license quoted below. I
will do the same for my non profits. Stop whining and think.
Why would you provide OpenSUSE as part of your support if you provide it
freely? If you provided it freely anyways, why would you care if it's
you downloading the software and distributing it within that
organization or is someone from that organization doing it within the
legal boundaries of that organization? You offer your
installation/support service anyway and charge for it and this part
doesn't change regardless of the way that OpenSUSE reaches within that
organization.
And another one: If you wanna make Novell/SUSE part of your business,
benefit from its branding and from its added value, simply become an
authorized Novell Business Partner. This will allow you to use the
Novell/SUSE brand and also to re-sell it.
Daniel
Berni Elbourn wrote:
Here's the statement which everyone must agree to while installing:
"The Software is a collective work of Novell. You may make and use
unlimited copies of the Software for Your distribution and use within
Your Organization. You may make and distribute unlimited copies of
the Software outside Your organization provided that: 1) You receive
no consideration; and, 2) you do not bundle or combine the Software
with another offering (e.g., software, hardware, or service). The
term "Organization" means a legal entity, excluding subsidiaries and
affiliates with a separate existence for tax purposes or for legal
personality purposes. An example of an Organization in the private
sector would be a corporation, partnership, or trust, excluding any
subsidiaries or affiliates of the organization with a separate tax
identification number or company registration number. In the public
sector, an example of Organization would be a specific government
body or local government authority."
The main question for me as a service provider is to ask if I can
provide downloaded Suse to my customers as part of an installation or
support service?
I did have this permission from the previous Suse organisation which
is why I am here now!
Berni
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