Linspire: Doomed to failure
,----[ Quote ]
| Linspire has an even bigger problem. The free software community has recently
| decided that Linspire was on their blacklist. Why? Most (if not all) of it is
| a backlash from the recent Linspire-Microsoft deal. Basically, Linspire
| agreed to help with Microsoft Office and OpenOffice.org compatibility, Pidgin
| and Windows Live Messenger compatibility, and Windows Media and TrueType font
| support in Linspire. Microsoft also promised not to sue Linspire users. But
| what is given in exchange? Freespire isn’t covered, major upgrades are
| invalidated (so you have to buy again to maintain protection against
| patents), and if you use free software, business software, software running
| on servers, or "clone" software, you could still be sued. After three years,
| this protection runs out. Plus, Microsoft can stop offering protection
| whenever they want. And to keep it, you can’t share the software, resell it,
| modify it, or use it for an unauthorized use. As you can guess, this didn’t
| go over well with the GNU/Linux community. Not only was a Linux company doing
| a deal with Microsoft, they were admitting that Linux was infringing on
| Microsoft’s patents.
`----
http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/node/2473
Related:
Linspire CEO Kevin Carmony resigns
,----[ Quote ]
| Carmony also said his resignation, contrary to some rumors, had nothing to do
| with any disagreement with Linspire's primary owner Michael Robertson, or
| with fallout from either of Linspire's recent deals with Microsoft, which
| covered technology licensing and patent indemnification.
|
| Carmony joined Linspire, then known as "Lindows," in June of 2001 to become
| its president. Later, he became the company's CEO.
`----
http://www.linux-watch.com/news/NS8364062244.html
Freespire, Linspire, and Microsoft patents
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft denies that this is the case, and argues that, in particular, the
| GPLv3 has nothing to do with it. However, with its July 5 Covenant to
| Customers concerning its Linspire deal, Microsoft is trying to put even more
| distance between any potential patent claims and the GPLv3.
`----
http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS7598947159.html
Tomorrow GPLv3 is Released
,----[ Quote ]
| Mr. Carmony asked a question, will Linux split in two factions? The answer
| is no. Some Linux distros will limp along a while and then die off,
| because they misunderstood what folks want when they choose GNU/Linux
| and FOSS. You can see that already. Red Hat, which refused to sign any
| such deal, is flourishing, for example. It's not about code that "just
| works". Apple offers that already. It's the freedom. And we've proven
| willing to put up with some temporary frustration in order to get it.
| In time, FOSS will win, and all those proprietary codecs and everything
| else will be made available on pleasanter terms, because market share
| does that.
`----
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20070628105947503
Linspire deal: What will ESR and Shuttleworth do now?
,----[ Quote ]
| Will Shuttleworth continue to collaborate with a company which has now
| caved in to a protection racket? Or will he do stick to the principle
| behind the whole FOSS movement and walk away from the deal? We're watching
| and waiting, Mark.
`----
http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/12899/1090/
Microsoft Strikes GPLv3 Software From Linspire Patent Deal
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft says software that's licensed under a new version of a popular open
| source license isn't covered by the patent protection deal it recently signed
| with desktop Linux distributor Linspire.
`----
http://www.informationweek.com/windows/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=201001836
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