Re: [Vectorlinux-devel] GPL Issues surrounding Mepis and the can of worms he opened.

[hanumizzle <han...@gm...>]

On 7/6/06, Tony Brijeski <tb...@gm...> wrote:
> Yes but Novell, Redhat, and the other bigger ones can afford to find out in
> court - I can't and won't.
>
> As soon as we "distribute" it to the VL repo, we are in the same boat as any
> other commercial distro and are liable for the same reason.

All the IP problems you've identified so far are not inherent problems
of the distro, just particular pieces of software. I think it would be
a bit of a pain to download the w32 dll codecs separately, but I am
certain those who appreciate this distro are willing to put in that
effort to stay legal.

> Sadly, it has become a mess.  Not only are we attacked from the outside but
> the kernel devs now.  If this all unfolds as it is starting to, linux will
> be locked in to strictly be a server OS and that is where the money is
> anyway so I'm not sure the paid kernel devs really care since that is what
> is driving linux on a larger scale.

On a larger scale for now.

> Even consultation with a lawyer doesn't prevent legal actions from being
> started and then you must defend yourself.

I think they would probably issue a cease and desist first.

> Just look at the whole IBM/SCO fiasco.

SCO are a joke.

> The negatives now outweigh the positives.  Those of you that reside outside
> the US and Canada are pretty much immune to all of this but for those of us
> that live here, the threat is a real possibility.

What weight do US software patent laws hold in Canada? I will be
seeking expatriation myself, somewhere where this idiocy does not
prevail. So all the loser goth kids who went to high school with me --
and software patent holders -- can both munch on a bowl of my ...
while I drink lassi and shoot the shiznit on IRC.

> I predict that if SCO is
> even minutely successful against IBM, there will be a whole slew of new
> lawsuits coming and look how long the IBM/SCO lawsuit has been going on.

They've consistently lost up to this point, and made complete asses
out of themselves.

-- 
Remember that time Thotsakan punched Neil Bush in the dick?