Memo to Reuters: stop spreading FUD about Novell and Linux

Sam Varghese
Monday, 05 February 2007 04:48

Opinion and Analysis

So does that not mean that Novell will be unable to sell Linux after March?

No. Novell can continue to use versions of the FSF's bits and pieces which are currently available - all under the GPLv2. The Linux kernel will continue to be under the GPLv2 - Torvalds and other developers have more or less decided on this. Novell will have to do a lot of extra development of the FSF bits and pieces on its own.

But Novell has just released versions of the SUSE GNU/Linux distribution which it sells. That will easily take it through the next two years. Mostly security updates will be needed, that's all. Every GNU/Linux distributor has to issue such updates - programmers are not infallible.

What is the scenario that will eventuate?

If Novell finds it impossible to develop its Linux distribution without new versions of the FSF's bits and pieces, then it may have to either spend a lot of money to hire developers who will develop those bits and pieces - effectively creating a fork or a second version of these bits and pieces - or reconsider its deal with Microsoft. In any case, Microsoft probably has a way out whereby it can pull out of the deal without incurring any major financial penalty.

Is there going to be a clash between GPLv2 and GPLv3?

It is highly unlikely that software under the two licences will not be able to be used together - provided there are no sweetheart deals alongside. The FSF would be biting off its nose to spite its face if it made it impossible for software under GPLv2 and software released under GPLv3 to live together. The FSF's fight is with deals such as that which Novell struck with Microsoft.

But isn't Reuters a major British news agency with a great reputation?

Yes. And the New York Times is a great American newspaper with a great reputation - which, in 2002 and 2003, told the world that Saddam Hussein was in possession of weapons of mass destruction.

Will Novell now act against Reuters as its (Novell's) stock price appears to have been affected by this story?

That is a question I cannot answer. Ron Hovsepian, please step up to the plate.