On Monday 10 November 2003 18:39, Shachar Shemesh wrote: > Hi list, > > I downloaded Fedora, and tried to install it on a box of mine (well - > VMWare to be precise). The problem with installing it was not > technical. The problem was that Fedora now includes an End User > License Agreement. That's right, folks. > > I may be paranoid, but to me an EULA means that someone is trying to > apply contract laws where copyright laws (or, in this case, Trademark > laws) can't get them what they want. I don't like such behaviour.
Shachar, I went and gotten myself a copy of the Fedora EULA (http://public.planetmirror.com/pub/fedora/linux/core/1/i386/os/eula.txt) and don't see any reason to get upset. They specifically let you know you get the software under the GPL, so there is not a problem with free software but I don't think that your problem with their EULA lies there. I assume that what you're angry about is the mention of trademark law being applicable to Fedora, but I fail to see why - they are very clear about you having all the rights to distribute the software compilation, modified or not. They simply let you know that should you modify the software compilation, you should not claim it to be a "Fedore" (and they're even nice enough to specifically point you to what two files you need to change to make it happen). This is very reasonable - their trademark is the embodiment of their reputation, their mark that the software compilation was tested by them and they agreed to associate their names with it. If you change it, they no longer vouch for it. You can still use it and distribute it, but you shouldn't make people think it's a Fedora. I find this very fair. Remember, they are an Open Source outfit, ALL they have is their reputation. That's what it means to be an Open Source services outfit - what you're really selling is your client feeling of confidence in your abilities, which is based first on your reputation and after a while on their experience of working with you (and hence the name under which I do business, btw - in case anyone wondered). The idea that a EULA is a new one is wrong - there always was a EULA. The idea of a EULA is based on copyright law (they specifically say so on the EULA!) and the GPL has always applied. No they just make it explicit. And that's good, I think. Cheers, Gilad -- Gilad Ben-Yossef <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Codefidence. A name you can trust (tm) http://codefidence.com ================================================================= To unsubscribe, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word "unsubscribe" in the message body, e.g., run the command echo unsubscribe | mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
