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Regarding SCO: What are we waiting for.

From:  anandsr@hss.hns.com
To:  letters@lwn.net
Subject:  Regarding SCO: What are we waiting for.
Date:  Tue, 22 Jul 2003 19:36:04 +0530
Cc:  moglen@columbia.edu



Hi,

It is funny that SCO Group has proposed to sell UnixWare Licenses for
Linux.

GPL strictly prohibits relicensing of GPL code without the permission
of all authors of a body of code.

TSG is trying to sell a different license than GPL for Linux. This is as
good as relicensing. I think they have opened themselves up for a
class action lawsuit covering all developers contributing code to
all Free Software code.

What is the opinion of FSF on this? I think their legal cousels should
take a go at this. Because if they sell a License for a Linux Distribution
they are covering everything, including FSF code as well.

At least the FSF should give a press release that they will SUE TSG if
TSG manage to sell their license to anybody who is using Linux, without
clearly stating that this license does not cover any GPL code.

If they don't do this, then FSF can sue, or get support from the aggrieved
author for sueing.

In this case the really problematic part is that one side is continuously
shouting and there is a deafening silence on the other side. Anybody
will obviously think that the shouting party is correct and the silent
party
is wrong.

regards,
-anandsr

Comments (3 posted)

What to do about the RIAA

From:  Chris Moore <zmower@ntlworld.com>
To:  letters@lwn.net, andrew.orlowski@theregister.co.uk, bob@cringely.com
Subject:  What to do about the RIAA
Date:  Sat, 19 Jul 2003 21:33:18 +0100

Hi,

Boycotting them is too much and not enough.  It's too much because it 
implies abstinance and it's not enough because they deserve so much 
more.  There's a much better way to stiffle them; swapping CDs in 
meat-space.  Since there is no copying taking place and no re-sale then 
it's entirely legal.  It removes the abstinance part, it's fun, hits 
them where it hurts the most and there's the obvious analogy with what 
happens online.

Finished with a CD?  Take it down to the swap meet.  An ideal place to 
meet is probably in front of the court house. Even if RIAA aren't 
prosecuting file swappers there, it's kind of symbolic and who knows, 
maybe the judge has some CDs he's finished with?

Chris Moore
Portsmouth, UK

-- 
Sig pending!


Comments (2 posted)

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