> The sooner they fork SUSE the sooner they can get a head start on the > project. For all the SUSE fans here, you should be happy of a fork. > You will still have a SUSE.
If Novell were to become unable to distribute the software, then so would every other linux distributor, a fork would not save you. The only thing that could prevent Novell from distributing the software is the GPL section which prevents distribution of patent encumbered software without obtaining a licence for everyone to use freely. "If, as a consequence of a court judgment *or allegation of patent infringement* or for any other reason (not limited to patent issues), conditions are imposed on you (whether by court order, agreement or otherwise) that contradict the conditions of this License, they do not excuse you from the conditions of this License. If you cannot distribute so as to satisfy simultaneously your obligations under this License and any other pertinent obligations, *then as a consequence you may not distribute the Program at all.*" Novell's stated position is that the GPLed software they distribute does not infringe Microsoft's patents, and if any infringements are found they will remove them. Indeed they must, or they cannot satisfy the requirements of the above section. The agreement with Microsoft does not let them off the hook and allow them to distribute infringing software. So if Microsoft alleges patent infringement in specific code it must be removed, Novell cannot continue to distribute it (to the US) neither can Debian, or Ubuntu, or a SUSE fork, as they cannot grant their distributees the right to freely distribute it. Forking or using another distribution will not change anything. > I will be first to admit, I have no clue as to how much work and > effort is involved in creating a fork of a distro. Indeed, apart from being an entirely pointless exercise as the fork would be just as illegal to distribute as the original, it would also never happen. I don't think you realise how small the non-suse community is so far. And how few resources it has. If you think they could provide dozens of packagers to package the wealth of software SUSE currently distribute, produce the funds to Fund hardware for core mirror infrastructure, Build service, bugzilla, mailing lists, and everything else that is involved you are deluding yourself. > "*We* need to convince OpenSUSE to fork, or let 'em die. To bad, it is > a wonderful Distro. But their parent company is NOT our friend." A tip, if you're going to use a sig that makes you sound like an idiot anyway, at least try to use correct spelling and grammar. _ Benjamin Weber -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
