VA Linux Issues a Manifesto on its Stance with Open Source Community

VA Linux Issues a Manifesto Concerned with its Stance on Open Source and
Relationship with the Community

Tokyo, Japan, Feb 22, 2005 - (JCN Newswire) - VA Linux Systems Japan K.K.
(VA Linux), Japan's leading Linux and Open Source solutions provider,
today announced that it issued a manifesto concerned with its stance on
Open Source and relationship with the community.  This manifesto, entitled
"VA Linux: Statement of Our Commitments on Open Source Software", states
how the company views Open Source and how it is going to take part in it.

Since its establishment in 2000, VA Linux has been deeply involved with
the Open Source movement.  The primary mission of VA Linux is to
contribute the evolution of the Japanese software industry, and produce
many men of talent for it.  As a way to achieve this goal, VA Linux has
been participating in numerous Open Source projects, which culminates
several contributions to the development of the Linux kernel, and
releasing some of its own software products under Open Source license.

By drafting this manifesto, VA Linux looked back over the past five good
years, carefully examined past experience, and concluded to show even more
stronger commitment to Open Source to the world.  Now it is clear that VA
Linux has been growing along with Open Source and greatly benefited from
it.  Thus, VA Linux would like to state definitely that it keeps firmly
committing to the Open Source movement from now on, as it was.

"It is rather obvious that the business of VA Linux has been closely
connected with Open Source.  The eye-catching growth of VA Linux could not
be achieved without its firm commitment to Open Source", said Tetsuya
Ueda, President and CEO of VA Linux in Tokyo.  "VA Linux's  excellent
technological insights on Open Source software, especially the Linux
kernel, has been the key of growth.  In consideration of such facts, we at
VA Linux think the time is right to show our strong commitment to Open
Source even more boldly."

Statement of Our Commitments on Open Source Software:
http://www.valinux.co.jp/en/about/oss_statement.html
VA Linux's activities in the Open Source arena:
http://www.valinux.co.jp/en/opensource/


VA Linux : Statement of Our Commitments on Open Source Software

VA Linux Systems Japan K.K. (VA Linux) has many employees who are involved
in Open Source actively, and it supports Open Source communities in many
ways.  This statement is intended to explain VA Linux's basic principles
regarding Open Source.

1. VA Linux supports Open Source vigorously

VA Linux supports Open Source / Free Software actively.  VA Linux promises
to help and contribute to Open Source / Free Software communities as much
as it can when it is needed.

2. VA Linux encourages its employees to join / start Open Source projects

VA Linux permits its employees joining or starting Open Source projects
outside of the company, whether the project is directly related with VA
Linux's business or not.  It is a matter of course to permit its employees
joining Open Source projects which is directly needed for VA Linux's
business, and since even purely private projects are expected to enhance
employees' ability and knowledge or provide new business opportunity,
there is no reason to deny it.

Also, if it is absolutely needed, VA Linux may permit its employees using
the company's own resources for their private projects. However, any
responsibility regarding activities by VA Linux's employees outside of the
company lie with the employees concerned themselves.

3. VA Linux shares the fruits of its labor with the Open Source community

When VA Linux developed software from scratch, we always consider the
possibility to make it be released as an Open Source software.  And if we
think it is good for us, we basically make our fruits open source
software.  Also, as a rule, any bug fixes or improvements done by VA Linux
for software developed outside of the company are sent to the upstream
authors or projects.

4. VA Linux handles the copyright of Open Source codes appropriately

VA Linux is fully aware of the importance of the copyright of Open Source
software, and handles it carefully.  In case VA Linux developed additional
codes to the Open Source software originally developed outside of the
company, and those additional codes are originally intended to be released
publicly, we basically release them under the same license as the original
software, or at least compatible one.  If VA Linux considers the
additional codes are more quickly merged into the upstream code base if VA
Linux transfers its rights to the community, VA Linux might give up its
copyright or might not claim some rights.

In principle, VA Linux does not claim any rights on the fruit of
employees' private Open Source projects, even if VA Linux's own resources
are used for the development of it.  VA Linux strongly encourages its
employees to give the feedback to the upstream.

5. VA Linux trusts in the power of community, and cooperates with them

VA Linux respects and trusts in the developers around the Open Source
community, including its own employees.  VA Linux always tries to
cooperate with the Open Source community, and promise to work together
with people to produce more superb software.  VA Linux does its best for
it.

About Trademarks

Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.  All other brand and
product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
holders.

About VA Linux Systems Japan K.K.

Founded in September 2000, VA Linux Systems Japan K.K. (VA Linux), which
has based its operations on the development of Linux and Open Source, has
become one of the premier providers of Linux Kernel, technological, and
software solutions in the Japanese domestic market. From March 2004
onward, VA Linux has been the recipient of funding from NTT Comware and
NTT Data. VA Linux is currently at the forefront of implementing Linux
solutions for telecommunication and enterprise system markets. For more
information, please visit http://www.valinux.co.jp/en/

Contact:

Takako Iizuka
Public Relations
VA Linux Systems Japan K.K.
phone: +81-3-3293-5151
fax: +81-3-3293-5152
Email: mktg@valinux.co.jp

Feb 22, 2005
Source: VA Linux Systems Japan K.K.
VA Linux Systems Japan K.K.
>From the Japan Corporate News Network
http://www.japancorp.net
Topic: General Announcement
Sectors: Programming and Development, IT General, Linux & Open Source

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