So they only reason Linux is trademarked is because some opportunist thought he was going to rip someone off.
Thanks for that, I knew he registered it to prevent others from maliciously using it but I didn't know that someone had already tried.
To me the greatest thing he has done is make unix available at a price I can afford.
Yes, me too. I don't remember which version my first kernel was... 1.2.13 according to an archive on ibiblio.org. My first install was Slackware 3.0, off floppies, onto a 486 I was given.
Another interesting thing (with a lot of speculation on my part), is that Linus works for Transmeta.
I thought Linus left Transmeta, but it looks like he's only "on leave", working for OSDL.
I wish I could reach an agreement like that with my employer.
Linux and all the software usually distributed with it is not copyrighted in the usual sense at all. They like to call it copyleft. The GNU General Public License (GPL) says that anyone can use the code for any purpose, however they have to make the revised source code available to anyone who wants it. In other words the terms of use are: "You can use our code, if others can use your code". Seems fair enough to me. That is the reason companies like Apple do not use it.
Sorry to pick on your example but Apple does use plenty of Open software, much of which is GPL, and any modifications they make are returned to the projects as required by the license. Check out http://www.apple.com/opensource/ for more details and a comprehensive list of OSS projects they've started, and those they've used in OS X Panther.
But they certainly haven't touched the Linux kernel. They use Mach which traces its roots back to Carnegie-Mellon University in the mid-80's. I think that it would be disastrous for Apple to use Linux as it would turn their whole system into a commodity, possibly killing their hardware platform in the process.
Strangely enough, IBM provides it as a free option on all of there servers with whatever changes they make available to anyone. They are another friend of Bill Gates (see above paragraph).
I've read that IBM have had it in for MS for quite some time, largely due to being shafted over OS/2. Possibly one reason why they got into bed with Apple and developed the G5 processor. And also possibly why they're a huge supporter of Linux.
I just loaded Slackware 9.1 on my system over the weekend. As soon as I get X configured, or find the CD with the correct config on it from my old system for my card and monitor, I will be going back.
I didn't know Slackware was up to 9.1 already. I have a 9.0 CD here.
(lowered voice) Now that Mac OS X has X11 support I'm actually about to delete Linux from my PC... but it stays on the server!
Cheers,
- Dave
http://www.digistar.com/~dmann/
