[SATLUG] Did everyone catch this--Microsoft takes on the free world

[tom weeks]

On Sunday 13 May 2007 18:02, Hector Bojorquez wrote:
> http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/05/28/100033867
> Microsoft takes on the free world
> Microsoft claims that free software like Linux, which runs a big chunk
> of corporate America, violates 235 of its patents. It wants royalties
> from distributors and users. 

M$ is trying to play poker with a house of cards here...

M$ wants to charge royalties for free software (as in Liberty AND BEER).

If folks like Red Hat would just stick to the Open Source philosophy and 
maintain that the product that they $ell is NOT software, but _is services_ 
(which has been everyones message from the beginning in the open source/FLOSS 
world), then what's the problem with MS getting OS/Patent royalties?  The 
patented software IS free as in liberty AND beer.  It's the nature of FLOSS.
Follow my logic here...

When you pay $400 for a Red Hat license.. you're not paying for the OS.. 
you're PAYING for the right to access to RHN, Red Hat's patching service, and 
RH's phone help install support.  That's it... That's right.. You can get a 
free legit copy of RHEL5, and maybe even a 30 day RHN patching subscription 
to tinker with it.. and the Open Source OS will continue working for ever.. 
at no cost.  You can get RHEL5 for free at any trade show, sometimes even 
downloaded for free (fully compiled, install ISO images) from the RH site at 
times.
	With Open Source, "The Product" = $ervices
	With Closed Source, "The Product" = $oftware

So when a RHN trail subscription expires, you can no longer patch the OS. Big 
whup.  If you know what you're doing, you can use CentOS or yum repos to keep 
it patched (if you prefer).  Unlike M$ Windows which actually STOPS WORKING 
when that eval period expires.  In Red Hat's case, it's access to the FEE 
BA$ED RHN system's $ERVICE that you pay for.. and that's the message that 
could make M$'s whole point.. well... pointless. :)

After all.. %20 royalties of $0 is still = $0 in my estimation.. ;)

Tweeks