[ale] Re: Red Hat scare tactics

[Bob Toxen]

On Thu, Oct 16, 2003 at 09:58:26PM -0400, Christopher Fowler wrote:
...
> > I solved this problem for one client by having them subscribe to RHN for
> > one system.  A program that I wrote then sees what new RPMs, if any, came
> > in and then copies them to their other systems and does a RPM install.
> > Works great and is legal.

> I do agree that you should be able
> to retrieve every piece of software that is GPL'ed on the RH ISO
> images.  I believe they have a right to limit the distribution
> of the total ISO to meet certain RH license guidelines.  Sure
> you should be able to freely download the openssh.XXXX.rpm but
> not be able to download the RH installer.  That would be code owned
> by RH and not fall under the GPL. Unless they were stupid enough to
> place their "glue" under the GPL. The packages are free the glue
> you have to pay for.  That is the value that novice users get when
> the pay for the ISO images.  You and I can build our own linux
> system from the ground up so we do not need their glue.
They do NOT have to give away the ISOs nor their non-GPL'ed code
but they DO have to make all GPL'ed code available for free or for a
nominal cost (and in a reasonably easy-to-obtain method).

To fail to make GPL'ed code available to all without imposing restrictions
on them (if one distributes it to anyone) is to violate the GPL that
states that one may NOT add restrictions to others as a condition of
their obtaining the GPL'ed code.

For Red Hat to say "here's Linux and GNU code only on CDROM or downloadable
ISO but you cannot replicate it or burn CDROMs and give 'em to others
cause we put our Trademarks on it" seems to me to be a clear violation
of the GPL.  We may see caselaw on this once IBM & RH destroy SCO.

> Chris

Bob Toxen
bob at verysecurelinux.com               [Please use for email to me]
http://www.verysecurelinux.com        [Network&Linux/Unix security consulting]
http://www.realworldlinuxsecurity.com [My book:"Real World Linux Security 2/e"]
Quality Linux & UNIX security and SysAdmin & software consulting since 1990.

"Microsoft: Unsafe at any clock speed!"
   -- Bob Toxen 10/03/2002