Troubling times for OpenSUSE

Sam Varghese
Saturday, 21 February 2009 05:06

Opinion and Analysis

There is an emotional tone right through the statement, tying the workforce reductions to the global financial crisis and, rightly, pointing out that few people around the world have not been touched, indirectly or directly, by job losses.

But trying to paint those who have criticised Novell, right from the time it signed a patent deal with Microsoft in 2006, and are continuing to do so, as individuals "who have decided to exploit the hardship of our fellow community members in these trying economic times for their own personal gain in their misguided rants against the Project and misinterpreted portrayals to the general public" is nothing but pure spin.

One apple can spoil a whole bunch. One statement like this can kill an otherwise sensible and meaningful message.

Nobody has anything but sympathy for people who have been unfortunate enough to lose their jobs, be they in IT or other professions.

But that does not change the fact that Novell signed a patent deal with Microsoft in 2006. If Novell  became a pariah in the FOSS community due to this, alienating many who had been supporters of its bid to make SUSE Linux a worthy competitor in the business world, then it has only itself to blame.

One must not forget the principle of cause and effect - the search for scapegoats must end at the company's executive suite.