Lindows to keep its name..

the latest beta version of the Linux-meets-Windows OS includes new features for quick software installation and the ability to view and print major file formats such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel.

Click to expand...

http://Lindows.com/ this week released a second "Sneak Preview" of its Linux based operating system, adding features for streamlining the process for installing new software and for viewing and printing non-Linux file formats.

Click to expand...

FSF asks Lindows, "Where's the source?"
Thursday April 11, 2002 - [ 03:58 PM GMT ]
- Tina Gasperson -

http://newsforge.com/newsforge/02/04/11/148251.shtml?tid=23

Bradley Kuhn, vice president of the Free Software Foundation, says the organization is contacting LindowsOS representatives because the company has not included source code with its "sneak preview" releases. Lindows CEO Michael Robertson says his company will comply with the GPL when the product is released to the public.

Kuhn says a Lindows insider tipped the FSF off to the possibility of missing source code. Lindows insiders are those who have registered and paid a $99 fee to receive beta releases of LindowsOS and other non-public information. LindowsOS is a distribution based on the Linux kernel, which is licensed under the GNU General Public License. The GPL states, in part, that the program instructions in their original form as written by the programmer (source code) must be available to users of the program. The GPL also requires that users be allowed to copy, modify and redistribute the program freely, but they must in turn provide the source code.

Click to expand...

Commentary: Open letter to Michael Robertson from Bruce Perens
Saturday April 13, 2002 - [ 02:27 PM GMT ]

http://newsforge.com/newsforge/02/04/13/1331214.shtml?tid=19

Dear Michael Robertson,

I don't think we've met, but you and I are partners. I'm one of the authors of the "Lindows" system."

First, I'd like to thank you for what Lindows.com has done to support Free Software: helping with the Debian and WINE conferences, contributing to the KDE League, and code contributions to WINE and through MP3.com.

I'm delighted to see you investing in a Linux-based desktop, and wish you all possible success in promoting it. Certainly you are welcome to sell copies of my software, and you don't have to pay me for the privilege. Modify it, use it for any purpose, all of that's fine.

But Michael, please remember that we are partners. For all that you've done for the Free Software community, we've done at least as much for you. And our partnership has rules that we are both honor-bound to follow. In the case of my work on Lindows, those rules are the terms of the GPL. You accepted those terms, and became my partner, when you chose to incorporate my software into your product and distribute it to others.

There is a pragmatic reason that I ask you to fulfill your source-code obligation any time you distribute a copy of my work from one legal entity to another: Sadly, some companies never make it to release 1.0. In that case, the pre-release versions provide the only opportunity for a company to fulfill its source-code obligation. Another reason is that if we're lax in enforcing our terms with you, other companies will think they can violate those terms with impunity.

In addition to pragmatic reasons, there's principle. In entering into the GPL relationship, partners agree not to unilaterally modify their partnership, for example, by overlaying the terms of a non-disclosure agreement upon the license. Partners agree not to delay their source-code obligation. You can be sure that I'll honor those terms when I distribute your code. If you want to behave differently, please negotiate a new contract with me.

Click to expand...