On The Insider: Britney's Bikini-Clad Top 10
BNET Business Network:
BNET
TechRepublic
ZDNet
TalkBack 20 of 43:
Next »
« Previous
How do You Spell Wrong!
The impressive thread of complete mis-information twining through this article is impressive, perhaps the result of 27 years experience creating "spin" instead of information.
No-one has given IBM one plugged nickle for any "open source" (perhaps you mean GPLed, which is NOT the same thing) software, since you can't buy it! "Reasonable cost of reproduction" comes to mind as the license restricition.
Indemnification for copyright infringement is a non-starter, since the end user would need to be DISTRIBUTING the software for this law to apply. So much for your "worste case scenario". Given that SCO HAS NOT FILED a copyright infringement suite against IBM, I fail to see how mentioning the case speaks to the point.
I am overwhelmed by teh apparent theory that since only big companies produce commercial off-the shelf software, the end user is protected from any lawsuites launched by "small campanies" whose IP has been stolen and incorporated into the closed-source products (perhaps I didn't get the exact sense here?).
There is an entire philosophy attached to much open-source software - Ms Giera obviously DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE about the notion that being able to modify the software you use to run your own company can be an advantage. HP offers idemnity if you forgo this advantage - perhaps IBM "gets it", and doesn't want to restrict your options.
"Any company that uses" closed-source "components has a responsibility to verify and validate the quality of that code ... -as is standard business practice for other IT software products" - see, change one word and recognize this sentence for the absolute rubbish that it is.
I have the following advise:
- have your lawyer(s) visit Groklaw.net to get some idea of the seemingly absent virtues of the SCO case
- resign yourself to the reality that C.O.T.S. software idemnifies you to the limits of its purchase price. If you can get someone to assume more liablity in a contract, more power to you
- open source is already a viable platform for important business applications - the majority of the Internet's email is delivered by open source software. Beware of pseudo-experts like Ms Giera who think you shouldn't join the crowd.
Posted by: chohman   Posted on: 10/27/03 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
Reply to Story Reply to Message

Alert moderator to an offensive message

Subscribe to this discussion via Email or RSS

Alternative open source with protection  richardgreavus | 10/27/03
Ms. Giera is mistaken.  Tim Patterson | 10/27/03
Well Said  issthatso | 10/27/03
So why not do it then?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/27/03
Maybe...  zip_z | 10/27/03
Because indemnity destroys the spirit of OSS  Robert Crocker | 10/27/03
Two points.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/27/03
Is this leading somewhere?  IT_User | 10/27/03
about voiding warranties  voska | 10/27/03
re: So why not do it then? Because Don....  bgoss@... | 10/27/03
She also speaks of "Open Source", when cearly she means "Linux Kernel"  dw@... | 10/27/03
Didn't IBM Assume the Risks?  jasonvp | 10/27/03
Wrong assumptions  Kyfho | 10/27/03
Maybe web developers can be indemnified for Eolas's successful case?  dw@... | 10/27/03
Ms Giera is Misleading the Public  ssharkey | 10/27/03
These new talkbacks suck (and blow)  Patrick Jones | 10/27/03
You'd be surprised how much a veteran will wilfully hold back an industry..  dw@... | 10/27/03
Websphere? All open source projects not just Linux?  EricMarts@... | 10/27/03
IDE for WAS is open source  ejhonda | 10/28/03
How do You Spell Wrong!  chohman | 10/27/03
Julie Giera, do you have a clue what you're talking about?  zd-spam | 10/27/03
Hogwash  Robert Crocker | 10/27/03
Nothing to lose? Then just do it.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/27/03
Nothing for IBM to lose, everything for OSS  Robert Crocker | 10/27/03
Straw man arguments?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/27/03
Message has been deleted.  dicktaurus@... | 10/27/03
No straw, pure meat  Robert Crocker | 10/27/03
Robert, your not listening.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/27/03
You may need a new "Bit" to sharpen your ax.  Robert Crocker | 10/28/03
I know, and you know, but does...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/28/03
he he he  none none | 10/27/03
You picked him too? Good 'ol BB, aka TRB. (NT)  Fred Fredrickson | 10/28/03
Ms. Giera is merely a FUD-tool for Paul Allen.  dicktaurus@... | 10/27/03
What's with all the HTML tags?  voska | 10/27/03
They switched to an Open Souce application  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/27/03
ZDNet: autofill this field!  none none | 10/27/03
Software Risks?  Jose Jimenez | 10/27/03
And who else does?  rkhalloran | 10/28/03
Practitioners vs Propagandists  Robert Hahn | 10/28/03
For those not in the know: Barratry  Fred Fredrickson | 10/28/03
27 Year Veteran of the IT Industry??  BanjoPaterson | 10/28/03
Total cost would be greater than sum of the parts  Richard Flude | 10/28/03
Will we see a similar SCO article?  Robert Crocker | 10/28/03

What do you think?

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

advertisement
advertisement
  • Smart Tech Expert advice on innovations in healthcare and the green technologies that make it happen. Find out more
  • Smart Business Discussion and advice on management issues that revolve around making your world smarter and more useful. More Smart Advice
  • Smart People The best and worst moves in the management and strategy trenches. Learn More