|| On Tue, 17 Dec 2002 14:43:01 +0100 || Jan Wildeboer jan.wildeboer@gmx.de wrote:
jw> Can Mandrake really do this? jw> http://www.mandrakesoft.com/products/mnf/license jw> ... jw> How is this possible with GNU/Linux?
It seems this is indeed legal as they only seem to be dual-licensing code they have the Copyright in.
I must say that I am worried about this development and consider it a mistake. Also it furthers misconceptions about Free Software that Mandrakesoft should help disspell, not spread.
Calling it "Commercial License Agreement" is the old beginners' mistake about commercial Free Software. A more suitable name would clearly be "Proprietary License Agreement."
Instead of offering an extended service contract with more support and guarantees for their Free Software package they require companies to buy proprietary software in order to get the support they need in a commercial environment, it seems.
This comes awfully close to educating customers that you cannot get proper services for Free Software.
Regards, Georg