<html>
Claude,<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite><b>From:</b> Claus Fischer
(<font color="#0000FF"><u>"</u><i>claus.fischer@clausfischer.com</i></font>)<br>
If the current license allows Lindows to make proprietary<br>
modifications and not give anything back, it certainly<br>
allows Codeweavers/whoever to make proprietary modifications<br>
and give back under LGPL.<br><br>
Those who don't want to even read LGPL code for reasons of<br>
'contamination' just shouldn't read it. You can't read Lindows<br>
code either.<br><br>
Why should Codeweavers be morally pressured to contribute under a<br>
steal-me license when steal-it companies don't contribute at
all?</blockquote><br>
Just to set the record straight. <br><br>
Lindows.com has had a partner company producing the majority of our WINE
code. The vast majority of the code that came from that partnership is in
the public tree already. <br><br>
Lindows.com has contributed code to open source projects. We have hired
open source companies (spending over 500K) to help us reach our goals
with the majority of the code going back to open source. Lindows.com has
given financial support to several open source initiatives (such as KDE).
Lindows.com has made significant investments in linux companies.
All told, we've spent about 2 million in the 5 months that we've been a
company. <br><br>
Linux (and all the other pieces) does 95% of what people want to do
today, but only has 1% market share. Our belief is that the code is
largely not the limiting factor for adoption now. It's all the pieces
that go around the code. It's education, it's marketing, it's lobbying,
it's business development, etc. These are big tasks which are critical to
success, even more so than the code itself (think AOL). I know this won't
be a popular thing to stay on a mailing list with "devel" in
the title, but it's where we believe linux is and what we believe needs
to happen to get to the next level. This doesn't mean the code isn't
important, it is but there are other critical elements. <br><br>
We need Lindows.com and 10 more thriving companies to help with the
expense of educating, lobbying, marketing, etc. desktop solutions. It's
expensive to do those things and a burden that needs to be shared by
several companies because the job is so enormous and the competitor so
strong. The Linux community, especially the desktop community needs
healthy ongoing companies to put in capital, organization, and other
support. If we can put a few million more people running Linux on the
desktop, then magical things will happen. Drivers for linux will be
available, higher quality linux software will emerge, more OEMs will
offer linux as an option, devices will have linux interfaces, governments
will view linux differently, etc.<br><br>
There are some small, but meaningful for-profit companies out there today
in linux (such as codeweavers and transgaming). The more companies in the
linux desktop space there are, the more companies that will be able to
pay their rates on an ongoing basis and hire them to code great products.
There's tremendous opportunity and the more companies out there the
better. <br><br>
As for our marketing message, it's designed for my Grandma. Anytime
there's a word on the website she doesn't understand she calls me up. Try
explaining a recursive acronym to your Grandma. Yikes. Our goal with
Lindows.com is to bring Linux to the segment of the world who thinks
linux is spelled with a 'y' and is a small bobcat. <br><br>
-- MR<br><br>
<br>
<br>
<div>Lindows.com</div>
<div>michael@lindows.com</div>
<div>858-410-5941</div>
<br>
Bring choice to computers: Become a Lindows.com Insider
<a href="http://www.lindows.com/signup" EUDORA=AUTOURL>http://www.lindows.com/signup</a>
</html>