On Tue, 04 May 2004, Paul Jakma wrote:
> > This is an example of a Linux which is not free of charge.
>> Linux has never been free of charge. The GPL is not about ensuring
> software stays "free of charge".
This is the point I was trying to make. There is no requirement that linux
be free-of-charge.
> > RHEL could easily (not sure if they actually do it) add
> > non-redistributable things. These could not be placed in Whitebox
> > Linux and the products would clearly be different.
>> Yes, it's amazing that RedHat in their infinitely evil ways havn't
> thought of that.
Okay, RHEL has been clearly shown by many now to be a _really_ badly chosen
example. I wasn't criticising Redhat (though it seems now to have sounded
that way). I was trying to illustrate that such a not free of charge linux
can be made and as such there's no requirement that linux is free.
> The GPL however does undermine any business model premised upon the
> sale of software alone. RedHat's business model is support, not
> licensing/sale of software.
I'll concede that it's very tough to run a business selling the software
alone. I guess on that basis Conor's correct.
Gavin
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