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DateMon, 12 Oct 1998 01:26:46 -0400 (EDT)
From"Mike A. Harris" <>
SubjectRe: Linux-2.1.125 ... pre-2.2 imminent
On Sun, 11 Oct 1998, Shawn Leas wrote:

>> 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.

Not really.  As long as they didn't try and violate GPL, Linus
could certainly work for them.

>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)

No.  The license prevents Linux from ever becoming proprietary,
or non-GPL.  It does not prevent Linus from getting a job at
Microsoft, and/or working on Linux from such a job.  Microsoft
could influence the development in that way, however I doubt
Linus would ever do anything to hurt the movement he has started.
Even if the $$$ was there...

>> 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.

They likely would.

><=========== 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.

What is this all about?  I've seen it for quite a while now.
What is "The raw deal"?  What is with all those days?  Do you
listen to Art Bell?

Take care,
TTYL


--
Mike A. Harris  -  Computer Consultant  -  Linux advocate

Linux software galore:  http://freshmeat.net


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