Messages in this thread | | | Date | Sun, 11 Oct 1998 23:59:24 -0500 (CDT) | From | Shawn Leas <> | Subject | Re: Linux-2.1.125 ... pre-2.2 imminent |
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On Sun, 11 Oct 1998, Mike A. Harris wrote:
> On Sun, 11 Oct 1998, Alan Cox wrote: > > >> > 2 now), and whatever we do, we do have to > >> > understand that NT 5.0 is a threat to Linux. > >> > >> No, it is not. > >> > >> What should happen? Linux goes bankrupt? Microsoft buys GNU? > > > >Believe me Microsoft think Linux is a threat now. Its level with things like > >java in their perceived threat list, so you can expect all the usual MS > >techniques to start coming this way and very soon. > > I believe that they will try and "buy" Linus out. Linus has > stated that he doesn't believe them to be "evil", and that if the > job was right, and money was right, he'd consider a job with > them. (Boot magazine). > > Would this affect Linux? Definitely. > > One scenario I envisioned, was Microsoft hiring Linus, perhaps > you as well, and other core developers, and then hiring other > people to come up with "Microsoft Linux" distribution. As far as > I know, they are free to do just that. Then they'd try putting > RedHat, etc... out of business.
A lot of the code in the distributed kernel is liscensed by the author of whatever component/driver you happen to be talking about. In short, they would in fact have to buy out quite a few of the core folks.
BTW, wasn't there something special about the way Linus handles the liscense that prevented even Linus from selling himself like a bitch in this sort of situation? ("bitch" used here strictly to describe the act of becoming a microsoft prostitute, NOT to diss Linus)
> They certainly wont get a dime from me though, and I'll never > have any Microsoft Linux software installed - free or otherwise.
> Really, I believe their interest in Linux is inevitable though.
Agreed. Let's not think about it for the moment. Maybe those big vendors like Sybase/Informix/Oracle/Netscape etc would back the Linux community in such a situation? It would be in their interest... I mean, if they're serious about Linux.
-Shawn <=========== America Held Hostage ===========> Day 2090 for the poor and the middle class. Day 2109 for the rich and the dead. 832 days remaining in the Raw Deal. <============================================>
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