Red Herring: Sun tries to eclipse Linux

“In a move aimed at Linux, Sun said it will announce Wednesday
that it is making the source code for its new Solaris 8 operating
system “open.” Webster’s has lots of definitions for the word,
including “not sealed, fastened, or locked.” But when you dig into
the details of Sun’s announcement, you’ll find that what it is
offering doesn’t come close to meeting the dictionary’s definition,
let alone that of the open-source movement….”

“Sun pre-briefed the press about the announcement Tuesday
afternoon. When pressed for a clear definition of whether anyone
could get the code, tweak it, and resell it without paying a
licensing fee to Sun, a company spokesman said no. “If someone is
reselling it in one way, shape, or another, we expect they will go
over the modification with us and negotiate a fee structure for the
resale,” said spokesman David Harrah.”

“That’s what Linux boosters were predicting before Sun
officially announced that it would open up the source code for
Solaris 8. “It’s really important when you talk to them that
you ask them what kind of ‘open’ they mean,” advises Chris
DiBona, a Linux evangelist for hardware vendor VA Linux
Systems….”

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