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Archive for June 20th, 2007

Red Hat, Ubuntu, Reject Talks With Microsoft

Earlier this month, Linspire, which also distributes a desktop version of Linux, became the latest open-source software distributor to sign a pact with Microsoft.

Red Hat and Ubuntu, both important distributors of Linux, have refused to discuss with Microsoft a technology licensing deal similar to those the software maker has signed with other open-source organizations. Rumors had been floating around the Web that Ubuntu was in discussions with Microsoft. Red, on the other hand, decided to issue a statement after seeing some of the terms of deals Microsoft had reached with other open source vendors.

“Based on what we have seen, the deal was not interesting to us,” Red Hat spokeswoman Leigh Day said in an e-mail Tuesday. “We continue to believe that open source and the innovation it represents should not be subject to an unsubstantiated tax that lacks transparency.”

Ubuntu took issue with signing an agreement in which patent infringements were not specified. Microsoft has claimed that open source software such as Linux violate 235 of its patents, but has not provided a list of the infringements, despite requests by the open-source community.

“We have declined to discuss any agreement with Microsoft under the threat of unspecified patent infringements,” said Mark Shuttleworth, a South African entrepreneur who provides commercial support to Ubuntu through his company Canonical Ltd. Shuttleworth posted the statement in his blog over the weekend.

Linux Foundation tackles power concerns

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Linux developers are gearing up for a summit next week in Canada to discuss the issue of power management in the open-source framework.

The Green Linux initiative is being organized by the Linux Foundation, which was formed earlier this year by a merger of the Open Source Development Labs and the Free Standards Group.

Last week the Foundation held a “collaboration summit” at Google’s Mountain View Campus, with the Green Linux initiative being one result of that meeting.

“Making Linux ‘green’ is becoming ever more important in all aspects of Linux adoption: mobile, desktop and server,” read a statement from the organization, released on Tuesday. “The Linux Foundation will work with its work groups, identify key projects and coordinate resources among its members to improve this functionality in the Linux platform. Power management developers will meet next week in Ottawa to continue work in this area.”