Samba says Novell-Microsoft deal sucks

In a letter to customers, Samba pointed out that one fundamental difference between Microsoft proprietary software and open source software was that the former divides and conquers with "coercive licensing agreements".

The open source world, on the other hand, "encourages users to unite and share the benefits of the software."

Samba said that the patent deal Microsoft and Novell jointly forged is "divisive".

It parlays users depending on whether they are commercial or non commercial, and deals the cards differently - depending on whether the version of Linux came from Novell or from elsewhere.

The GPL, alleges Samba, "allows for no such distinctions". All disties of GPL software "must stand together" in the fight against software patents.

Novell, alleges Samba: "Is attempting to destroy that unified defence, exchanging the long term interests of the entire Free Software community for a short term advantage for Novell over their competitors."

To use patents is unacceptable, said Samba. Novell knows this, and Samba wants Novell to work with the Software Freedom Law Centre "to undo" the patent argument. µ