Yasashii Syndicate

Calgary, Alberta (Yasashiisyndicate.org) - Sunday evening, senior Yasashii Syndicate officials issued a statement condemning the recent Novell-Microsoft patent covenant. Nicholas Evans, well-known for his writings (including the Introduction to SQL and Subversion in Fifteen Minutes papers), called the deal a slap in the face to open-source developers who have helped to build Novell’s Linux business on their personal time.

“Basically, Novell is telling us that Microsoft’s claims of Linux infringing on their intellectual property are true, and that we all need to start paying a Microsoft tax on SUSE. Furthermore, they insult the people who have donated their time to developing the software which they have taken, free of cost, integrated into their product, and resold.” said Evans. He also questioned the sanity of senior Novell management. “And what happens when the Free Software Foundation moves their code over to the GPL v3?”

The GNU GPL is one of the licenses that has shaped the open-source movement. Version three is a work-in-progress which will contain additional protections against deals like the one struck between Novell and Microsoft which allow for limited redistribution of patent licenses. Critical components in the Novell SUSE operating system will be migrated to GPL v3 around the second fiscal quarter in 2007, potentially preventing Novell from integrating the latest versions of Free software into their product.

When asked outside his home in snowy Saskatoon, Chairman Ell stated, “These disturbing events just show the massive effect of FUD and the sad state of the US patent system.” FUD is a buzzword for the growing trend of technology companies spreading claims designed to insight fear, uncertainty, and doubt, without actually backing their claims up.

As a whole, the Yasashii Syndicate is against this deal, fearing that it will hurt the open-source community and drive a wedge between Novell, the Free Software Foundation, and other major players.

About Novell
Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) delivers Software for the Open Enterprise™. With more than 50,000 customers in 43 countries, Novell helps customers manage, simplify, secure and integrate their technology environments by leveraging best-of-breed, open standards-based software. With more than 20 years of experience, 4,700 employees, 5,000 partners and support centers around the world, Novell helps customers gain control over their IT operating environments while reducing costs. More information about Novell can be found at http://www.novell.com.

About The Yasashii Syndicate
The Yasashii Syndicate, otherwise known as the Gentle Syndicate, is an organization dedicated to its execution of The Sekrit Plan. The Sekrit Plan’s goals, to outsiders, seem strange and mysterious. To syndicate members, however, The Sekrit Plan makes perfect fucking sense.

For more information about the Yasashii Syndicate, please see yasashiisyndicate.org/about.

Filed by OwlManAtt at 11:42 pm under Syndicate
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