Berni,
Berni Elbourn wrote:
Daniel Secareanu wrote:
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.
Novell and everyone here have invested a lot in OpenSuSE, and have
placed the distribution boundary as described in the whole document.
You should respect that.
I acknowledge the effort that Novell/SUSE has been putting and is
putting in these projects, and believe it or not, I have purchased SUSE
products to support this (both professional and enterprise). I do
respect Novell/SUSE efforts and I don't think that what I suggested is
dis considering them. I was just suggesting a model that will allow you
to continue to offer value added services based on SUSE Linux products
while abiding by the license of the product.
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.
I do care, and just seem to have more consideration for Novell and
their terms. I wish you good luck with your approach.
Thank you. I do consider myself lucky. I have migrated two of my NGO's
at server side to an almost 100% SUSE Linux based solution. I'm running
a SUSE Linux User's portal in my spare time and through voluntary
efforts, promoting the brand and the products and trying to create a
local community. I do label all my projects "suse powered" with links to
SUSE Linux page (free marketing for Novell/SUSE).
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.
A point well made. Novell partnering is 1500EUR+VAT. My turnover can
not tolerate that kind of investment so its not an option.
This is also in my plan. I do intend to become an authorized Novell
Business Partner starting 2006 because I do believe in Novell/SUSE Linux
as a business.
Berni
Daniel
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