[ILUG] SuSE

[Enda]

On Friday 14 June 2002 18:43, Rick Moen wrote:
> Quoting Enda (enda at unison.ie):
> > You've missed my point entirely. I'm telling you for a fact that SuSE
> > does not have an issue with you burning a copy for a friend.
>
> I'll be delighted to hear this, if you can support it.

You make a basic assumption, as in your last mail, that the CD's are 
copyrighted. This assumption is wrong. Non repudable clarification of this 
can be had by inspecting any of the CD's in either packaged distro.

> I see on http://www.suse.com/cgi-bin/orderform.cgi copies of SuSE Linux
> 8.0 Professional and Personal Edition boxed sets for UKP 59.00 and
> 39.00, respectively.  I'm unable to find any permission to redistribute.
> Can you point it out to me?

CD1, the file is called COPYING and there is a second version called 
COPYING.tex , it contains the same licence that is drawn to your attention on 
the SuSE site:
http://www.suse.de/uk/support/gpl/

> Can you explain to me how it's possible for SuSE Linux AG to grant
> third parties permission to freely redistribute Star Office 5.2, VMware,
> Opera 6.0, Moneydance, Kylix Open Edition, and IBM Java2, which are
> owned by other companies who do not permit such redistribution?

SuSE's position on this is that the software is essentially being distributed 
as demo. Each one is being distributed in a fashion that has been agreed with 
the software producers. When you install, the Yast installation may draw your 
attention to the exact location of the third party licence in accordance with 
the software creators conditions. Some of the commercial packages are time 
limited, some dont run at all post install without you purchase an activation 
key independantly, an example being JBuilder4. I must admit that I too am 
surprised at Star Office coming under such an agreement, but I do not have 
any evidence to hand with which I can deny SuSE's claims.

SuSE does obtain the redistribution right and it is obtained on the basis that 
the CD's can be copied. If the software producer will not agree to that, the 
software is not included. AFAIK you are incorrect when you state that VMware 
is distributed freely with the standard SuSE distro, I am about 70% confident 
that this is no longer the case as VMware changed their licencing stance with 
SuSE prior to v8.0 or maybe it was 7.3, again working from vague memory on 
this VMware issue.

> If you can substantiate your position on those two points:
>
>   a) Show anywhere that SuSE state their permission to duplicate and
>      redistribute the discs comprising Personal and Professional
>      Edition, and

In making this request you are incorrectly making an assumption (which you 
aired in your first mail in this thread) that the SuSE CD's are copyrighted. 
Do SuSE permit it, yes, do SuSE encourage it, of course not, that does not 
make commercial sense. Can I produce hard evidence that SuSE permit it, no, 
clearly because if SuSE print your permission, they are inherently 
encouraging this too, and encourage it they will not do.

Have I got confirmation from SuSE of this, yes - verbally. Are you in a 
position to challenge my representation of what I claim is fact in this 
regard? Not unless you can show anywhere that SuSE state that they deny 
permission to duplicate and redistribute the discs comprising Personal and 
Professional Edition.

>   b) Explain to me how SuSE can grant the public the right to duplicate
>      and redistribute third-party proprietary software it includes under
>      licence, and whose copyright owners have granted no such permission

Again you make an assumption that is wrong, you assume that the third party 
proprietary software is licenced by SuSE for inclusion in their distribution, 
which it is not. Each proprietary software package is distributed with its 
own licence to be engaged between the end user and the software company. 

SuSE's requirements in this arrangement is to use its installation tool to 
draw the end users attention to the fact that they are required to engage in 
a licence agreement with the software vendor. Essentially all the packages 
are distributed as demos, and cannot be distributed independantly. SuSE 
clarification of this is available on page 19 of the SuSE linux 8.0 reference 
manual. 

> Then I will be most gratified, and join you in urging such sharing of
> the wealth.  

Glad to have you on board ;-)

> Looking forward to your reply.

Hope I didnt disappoint.

Cheers,

 -Enda.