Novell may be banned from selling Linux

The Free Software Foundation is considering removing the right to sell a new version of the Linux operating system from Novell, after it was harshly criticized by the open source community for shaking hands with Microsoft, charging users.

Last November, Novell stormed the open source market when "signing a historic agreement with Microsoft". The substantive content of the deal is that Microsoft promises not to sue consumers who have bought the Linux version released by Novell.

Insert users

The message immediately understood: if you continue to use a free version of Linux from any other distributor, in addition to Novell, customers will face the risk of being dragged to court by Microsoft.

Source: Laflecha Immediately, protesters called on the Free Software Foundation's Executive Board to impose sanctions on Novell, but the most serious was the ban on the company distributing new Linux versions.

" The public wants to do everything possible to break these kind of agreements. They have enough reason to worry that these are Microsoft's first moves to tighten the grip on the source market. open, "said Eben Moglen, Fund's lawyer.

The Free Software Foundation is a place to control intellectual property rights for key components within the Linux operating system. Linux is currently the most popular variant of open source software. Unlike proprietary software like Microsoft Windows, open source software allows developers to share code, add features, and often at no cost to use.

Moglen said the Fund's Executive Board has not yet made a final decision, but he predicts the decision will be announced within the next two weeks.

Thought to be lost

If the Fund decides to "act", the ban will apply to new versions of Linux, taking part in an agreement between Microsoft and Novell. Software vendors like Novell sell standardized versions of Linux with many customization features. In addition, they also provide maintenance and technical support services to customers.

Revenue from Linux now accounts for about 5% of Novell's total revenue of 967 million last year. The agreement signed with Microsoft, therefore, became a need for money for both Novell and Microsoft. Accordingly, the two sides will jointly sell each other's products, jointly develop common technologies, allowing businesses to use Linux in parallel with Windows.

The open source community called on Novell to abolish the deal, citing it would lower Linux's position and help Microsoft on its way to persuade businesses to use Microsoft products, instead of open source. But it seems that Novell always ignored these complaints.

If you are subject to a penalty from the Free Software Foundation, Novell's business will certainly suffer heavy losses. In order to upgrade the Linux operating system, they will have to spend more money on research and development because they are not allowed to access the latest open source from the Fund anymore.

Trong Cam