Giant step for Microsoft spyware killer

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Business harm

>>>Does the GPL provide any avenues for accountability<<<

WTF???

The GPL is a license to use software, not software itself. The MS EULA is specific to each install, patch, update, or application MS has so to compare the two would be comparing apples and jackrabbits.

What you probably want to know is who is going to stand behind you software. If it is a proprietary app then the company you bought it from will most likely be your first POC. (Yes, contrary to what the MS party line preaches, you can have proprietary apps for Linux). If it is a standard install from a distro that you paid for then the distro would be your POC. If you download a freebie then you would get exactly the same amount of support you get from MS freebies. Well, not exactly. You could probably e-mail the author of the software and he would write you a patch in a day or so. Try to send an e-mail to an MS developer. Good luck.

Other options. Make copy of directory before update. If any problems simply rename copy to original and it should put you back where you started.

The point being that if you update MySQL it is not likely to destroy Apache, Openoffice or Ximian the way an MS update destroys apps not related to the update.

The top choice is if it is a critical app then do the same you would do with any app that runs on MS...buy the support contract. Nothing different here.

But, please, don't confuse the GPL with an MS EULA. They are entirely different animals with nothing in common. The answer to your (implied) question simply takes a bit of common sense. Nothing magic about that.

I am curious why you think GPL'd software should be accountable for business problems when MS software specifically states they really don't give a rat's derriere about your problems. Why do you hold free software to a higher standard than software you pay sinful amounts for?

Posted by: AmusedAtItAll   Posted on: 01/05/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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