Barrapunto

Novell va a pagar cara esta traición a la comunidad. Si solo le preocupan las empresas y hacer dinero, no debería haberse agarrado al software libre. Primero será castigada por los defensores del software libre, que nos sentimos traicionados. Después de haberla usado a su antojo, Microsoft le dará la patada.
Personalmente no utilizaba SuSE pero me planteaba proponerlo como solucion en caso de migrar (y eran unos cuantos cientos de puestos). Ahora ya no lo haré.
La verdad es que su imagen como empresa a mis ojos se ha deteriorado instantaneamente. Antes la veía como una empresa fuerte, capaz de competir con el monopolio. Ahora solo veo una marioneta en las manos de Microsoft, como antes lo fué SCO, cuyo destino está sellado.

http://www.openaddict.com/comment.php?comment.news .227

Now, more than ever, we need the Free Software Foundation
Microsoft is now assaulting the walls of the OSS stronghold. Novell's Suse has fallen and others will be targeted next. Now, more than ever, we need the FSF and the GPL to protect our Freedom from software patents and intellectual property claims.

I don't know how Novell is planning to circumvent the GPL in this case. From the GPL v2 preamble:

Finally, any free program is threatened constantly by software patents. We wish to avoid the danger that redistributors of a free program will individually obtain patent licenses, in effect making the program proprietary. To prevent this, we have made it clear that any patent must be licensed for everyone's free use or not licensed at all.

If you haven't already, join the FSF and support them financially for the upcoming GPL court challenges. This fight is not over and Microsoft will not just give up if challenged with GPL violations. They have billions of dollars in the bank to fund any legal case against the GPL and the Novell deal could very well be their foot in the door.

For example, here's another quote from the GPL that Microsoft and Novell are now violating:
If you cannot distribute so as to satisfy simultaneously your obligations under this License and any other pertinent obligations, then as a consequence you may not distribute the Program at all. For example, if a patent license would not permit royalty-free redistribution of the Program by all those who receive copies directly or indirectly through you, then the only way you could satisfy both it and this License would be to refrain entirely from distribution of the Program.

If you are using Suse, please remove it and use a Free version of Linux like Debian or Slackware. I'm calling for a boycott of all software, services and products Novell. Don't purchase, license or download any Novell Linux or software products as long as Novell is in violation of the GPL.

R.I.P. Suse