> > > so correct me if i am wrong > > > if you want to stay current with Linux (either Suse or RedHat) > > > you are going to have to pay. > > > >Yes. That's how they pay their bills. > > I was under the impression that they pay their bills primarily from the > revenue stream they get for *support* - the GPL means they can't rely on > revenue from selling *code* which can be freely redistributed?
You've just awoken the bees. As best I can figure it, I can download RHL and burn it to CDs, lable the CD as containing RHL, and install it on all my machines, free of charge. I can tell you I'm running Red Hat Linux. I can take those CDs along to the local LUG and sell them off, and tell everyone they're getting Red Hat Linux. If you miss out and come to my office, I think I can sell them to you for a small charge. I'm pretty sure I can _give_ them to you. I cannot burn _different_ CDs, say created by applying upgrades, and sell those as Red Hat Linux. I cannot sell a set of RHL CDs plus one of my own and tell you what you're getting. That's a misuse of Red Hat's trademarks. I cannot create, say, Dingo Linux, based on selected RHL packages, and with some others (mine or yours), and describe Dingo Linux as "based on Red Hat Linux." To some extent these problems can be overcome by selling you boxed sets (in which case you pay Red Hat for support _I_ would want to offer). Possibly, possibly, I can get a licence from Red Hat to use its trademarks. I think Debian has a bright future. Ah, the bees are settling now. -- Cheers John Summerfield Microsoft's most solid OS: http://www.geocities.com/rcwoolley/ Note: mail delivered to me is deemed to be intended for me, for my disposition. ============================== If you don't like being told you're wrong, be right!
