This page permanently redirects to gemini://gemini.techrights.org/2007/12/19/dell-dvd-dmca-novell/.
Posted in Dell, Free/Libre Software, GNU/Linux, Hardware, Microsoft, Novell, Patents, SLES/SLED, Ubuntu at 1:05 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Conservative software world and Big Media to meet Free software
Dell’s decision to ship GNU/Linux desktops was a wonderful thing. There is no doubt about it. Dell’s decision is commendable.
When Dell joined the Microsoft/Novell deal — whatever that means — questions arose. It was a bit of a mystery and it wasn’t obvious what it actually involved. All we have are lots of clues, the subsequent distribution of SUSE Linux in China, other theories, and various other pieces of information that we continue to gather as time goes by (more here). The information piles up, but there’s no clear conclusion. Everything is vague.
=> lots of clues | distribution | SUSE Linux in China | other theories | ↺ information that we continue to gather as time goes by | ↺ more here
The latest news is that Dell will add out-of-the-box DVD playback support to its Ubuntu GNU/Linux PCs.
=> ↺ to its Ubuntu GNU/Linux PCs
It has long been possible to play DVDs on Linux. However, with most Linux distributions, it is necessary to manually enable this functionality. That is because while the user may legally own both the DVD he or she is trying to play and the computer it’s being played on, in the United States, enabling open-source-based operating systems to play commercial DVDs, with their wide variety of DRM (digital rights management) schemes, is something of a legal swamp. There are legal ways around this, and presumably Dell has invested in one of them.
What is meant here by “invested”? Was there just a legal barrier, a financial barrier, or something else? After Dell’s engagement in the Novell/Microsoft deal, might we gradually see software patent tax added blindly? On the desktop, interoperability is unlikely to be a factor.
Dell never spoke about the financial relationship it has with Canonical, so it’s hard to know what money flows in whose direction. There is no transparency at all although we’ve already seen anti-competitive elements in Dell's contracts with Microsoft.
=> anti-competitive elements in Dell's contracts with Microsoft
Last but not least — a reminder about mythical patents. Remember that GNU/Linux is software. There cannot be patent infringement in it (with the exception of a few countries), unless it’s combined or embedded in some device. Even DMCA laws are hard to find around the world. █
=> mythical patents | combined | embedded in some device
Share in other sites/networks: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
Permalink Send this to a friend
=> Permalink | ↺ Send this to a friend
=> Techrights
➮ Sharing is caring. Content is available under CC-BY-SA.
text/gemini;lang=en-GBThis content has been proxied by September (3851b).