|
CNet reports that Microsoft and Novell have completed a survey of industry figures' reaction to their recently formed partnership. The companies (Microsoft and Novell) commissioned a study of 201 computing industry decision makers that found 95 percent of respondents approved of the collaboration. In addition, 90 percent said they thought the deal would improve computer system interoperability, and 75 percent said they thought it would decrease patent infringement risks. The partners plan to tout the survey on Tuesday.
..."This survey supports our belief when we entered the agreement with Microsoft: collaboration on behalf of the customer is a winning proposition for all parties involved," said Susan Heystee, vice president of global strategic alliances at Novell. Several reflections:
First, a lot of commentary on the Microsoft-Novell deal has been "ideological" rather than business focused. This report provides an important addition to the public discourse to remind us that its the software *industry* we're talking about.
Second, the FSF and other FOSS entities obviously have commercial interests in seeing Microsoft and Novell not work together. Rather than admit they're fighting for their own profits and interests, critics of the deal clamored on about "the spirit of the GPL" or the "motivation of the community" that really just translate to "we're worried about the next fiscal year," or, "we talk about freedom but want to control others."
Third, and perhaps most striking, is how the FSF and FOSS community sought to go after Microsoft and Novell via "community enforcement." Industry observers have long noted how the GPL has had dual components: legal and community enforcement. In this situation its funny, 'sounds like them saying: "we'll rant and pout if we don't like something even if the American legal system won't support us."
Fourth, its amazing how some unhappy minds argue that Novell somehow admitted that Linux infringes Microsoft's patents. Linux development is ongoing, thus the agreement addresses code to be developed in the future. The importance of this is that Novell can be confident in working with Microsoft moving forward- the very facet that the FSF and various FOSS groups wanted to cast doubt on.
posted by Noel Le @ 7:30 AM | Free Culture Movement, Patents
Link to this Entry |
Printer-Friendly |
Email a Comment | Post a Comment(1)
|
