On Fri, 16 Apr 2010 10:25:24 -0500 Eric Rostetter <rostet...@mail.utexas.edu> wrote:
> Quoting Leonardo Rodrigues <leolis...@solutti.com.br>: > > > it's VERY common in the software industry to stop supporting old > > versions, but they simply stay working. > > For six months, you've been told to either upgrade or disable signature > updates. If you'd done either, you would still be running fine. > > > clamav took a VERY bad move, there's absolutely no doubt on that. > > Perhaps, but had they let you continue running it, letting you think > it was working perfectly, but it no longer protected you -- that is it > could no longer do the job it is supposed to do -- would they be doing > you a service or a dis-service? > > In this case, they are dammed if they do (anti-virus that doesn't catch > viruses is sure to be criticized), dammed if they don't (people who don't > do due diligence are sure to criticize them for "breaking" their system). Obviously neither side of the discussion can be convinced. It would possibly be a good idea to through in some more general thoughts about GPL'ed software. If I understood RMS' basic intention right he is all for the freedom of the _user_. This basically means no software vendor or supplier should have the power to dismiss a running system only because he thinks it is the right thing to do. This can only be a users' choice. And it is his choice _not_ to listen to the supplier and do updates or whatever. Following this thought it was no good idea to bring the ancient services down only to make people update. That is exactly what GPL is _not_ about. Nobody can and should drive a supplier of GPL'ed software to deliver ultimate support. It is his choice to stop supporting certain versions. But that can be handled in a user-friendly way, too. And really, the whole idea of eol'ing GPL software is really violating the moral ground. And that is what makes people upset. -- Regards, Stephan _______________________________________________ Help us build a comprehensive ClamAV guide: visit http://wiki.clamav.net http://www.clamav.net/support/ml
