Intel’s purchase of a minority stake in Red Hat Software marks a
turning point in the history of computing and sends a clear signal
to Redmond that the Wintel alliance is breaking up.
Intel’s motives are clear: Linux has established itself by
capturing 27% of the Internet server market. Oracle, IBM, Syquest
and Informix have all recently announced major Linux products.
Intel wants to cash in on these market opportunities.
But is it a good thing for free software?
Advocates have concerns about whether the entry of big money may
actually harm free software.
In the first place, buying a stake in just one Linux
distribution maker may deepen the divisions that exist in the free
software community.
All distributions use essentially the same software, but Intel’s
decision to buy into Red Hat amounts to an endorsement that will
give it a decided sales advantage over other distributions.
Another concern is that Intel will have a corrupting influence
on the free software movement. There is already considerable
resentment about the Intel endorsed I2O specification not being an
open standard. What comparable adulterations might Intel introduce
into the products it helps Red Hat produce?
These concerns are legitimate.
On the other hand, advocates have been laboring tirelessly for
years to have free software accepted. Finally, it is being
accepted.
Now the enterprise is asking for Linux, but Linux is not ready
for the enterprise. How many free software projects do you know
which are struggling to produce a product with volunteer help?
When we wanted free software, it seemed only logical that we
invest our time and energy to create it.
Now the enterprise wants free software. It is just as logical
for the enterprise to make whatever investment is required to
create the products the enterprise wants.
It is a challenging and awesome moment.
Publicly help corporations do not have a moral imperative to
protect the spirit of free software licenses but only to bring the
greatest return to their shareholders. Many of the free software
licenses offer no protection against turning free software into
proprietary software.
The GPL license offers the most protection that both the source
code and its distribution will remain free.
Fortunately, Linux and the most essential software development
tools are protected by the GPL. This, by itself, assures the
continuity of the free software movement. So, fundamentally, we
have nothing to fear from the entry of big money into free
software.
Red Hat, from its foundation, has been committed to the free
software movement. It is not likely that it will now start to
produce proprietary products with Intel’s money. If the Red Hat
developers had had an interest in producing proprietary products,
they would have left Red Hat long ago to join other companies for
substantial increases in their salaries.
As the fruits of Intel’s money will be more free software, the
concern that Red Hat is gaining an unfair advantage over other
distributions is tempered by the good it will bring to the free
software community.
No company has worked harder to promote free software than Red
Hat. They are well deserving of the opportunity Intel now gives
them to do even more.
Congratulations, Red Hat! You deserve it.