On Mon, 2003-09-01 at 20:08, robin wrote: > Inhabitant of Zion wrote: > > >> ... please somebody explain to what's that part about Linus > >>Torvalds ... I thought he was the founder of Linux ... and suporter of > >>free software .. & stuff lik that ... > >> > >> > >> > > > >I can't be sure but as others have expressed it may be something to do with > >the name (i.e GNU/Linux vs Linux). If you look at some stuff in Linux it > >gives Linux as the registered trademark of Linus > >Torwhateveritishecallshimself. Maybe there is some conditions in his > >registering of the trademark that prevents anybody from taking the Linux > >kernel,tweaking it, and calling the resulting OS GNUx. > > > > > > I'm pretty sure that is the case, just as, shortly after the publication > of Gibson's "Neuroancer" (which coined the term "cyberspace") someone > with foresight trademarked "cyberspace", specifically so that no other > company could do so (and therefore sue anyone who didn't write it as > "cyberspace (TM)"). Linus' aim was largely to prevent the product being > hijacked by big companies with big lawyers, though it's possible that he > also wanted to retain some influence over what, after all, was his > brainchild. > > Sir Robin
In 1996 William R. Della Croce, Jr.started sending letters to people claiming that he had licensed Linux in 1994. There was general outrage, and a consortium headed by SST took the case to court, pointing out they'd published 'Linux Journal' prior to 1994. Croce's case was thrown out, and the trademark was more-or-less presented to Linux Torvalds. Wonder if SCO have heard about this? Paul M.
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