FAQ GPLv3
From openSUSE
FAQ on GPLv3 draft from March 28, 2007
Q: Is GPL3 going to kill SUSE Linux?
A: No way. Novell is committed to the Linux business.
Q: How will you be able to ship GPLv3 components?
A: If you've read the initial press reactions to this draft, you've seen there are a lot of questions around how this will end up. This is just a draft, so it's too early to say exactly how we will accommodate GPLv3. But we're always very careful to fulfill the requirements of licenses that we ship our software under, and that'll be true for GPL3, as well.
Q: So you might dump the Microsoft deal?
A: We don't intend to do any such thing. Novell is committed to continuing our partnership with Microsoft, because the enhanced interoperability is good for our users and good for Linux adoption. If the final version of GPLv3 does conflict with the Microsoft agreement, we've said we'll address that with Microsoft.
Q: So you might sell out even more to Microsoft?
A: We haven't sold out. We've brought Microsoft to acknowledge Linux formally as a data center platform. We contribute in a big way to free and open source software projects. Novell pays staff to develop and contribute enhancements to numerous projects, including the Linux kernel, KDE, OpenOffice.org, Mono, and even FSF projects such as gcc and glibc.
Q: What about that "grandfathering" clause??
A: Look at the FSF's own rationale on this. They've said this is a complicated issue because they don't want to put conditions in the license that might have an unexpected impact on pre-existing deals. When you are talking about a general license like the GPL, it makes sense that the provisions address the future, and not the past.
Q: Do you think the grandfathering clause will stick?
A: We can't predict that. But, as we said above, it makes sense that provisions in the new license address the future, and not the past. That way, companies know the parameters and can act accordingly going forward.
Q: Does GPLv3 have an adverse impact on Microsoft's patent rights?
A: We're not lawyers, so we're not going there. Besides, this is still a draft, so it's too early to say with any certainty what GPLv3 will or won't do on a specific provision like this. As we've said, if the final version of GPLv3 has any implications for the Microsoft agreement, then we will address that with Microsoft.
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