On Thursday 09 July 2009, Pravin Dhayfule wrote:
Relax Folks,
I never thought that my simple questions would lead to such a huge debate.
My questions were very simple.
And I got the answer too through these discussions.
So I have come to this point (please correct me if am wrong or misinterpreted)
- Just like Microsoft, Red Hat has a per machine License system (thats
what its EULA specifies I suppose). This has nothing to do with trade mark, copyright etc etc. but Violation of EULA
Wrong.
- Copying RH from the original CD
This is ambiguous as far as trademarks go. There is no copyright violation however.
(or using the same CD) and installing it on another Machine for which the License payment has not be done is similar to installing Windows from original or (copied CD) on to other unlicensed systems. This is refered to as Piracy I suppose.
Wrong. You can install from the original to as many machines as you wish.
- On the machines without License, users cant get access to Microsoft
Updates (including security, service packs, Internet Explorer, Media Player, etc.) as the MS website checks for Genuineness of the installed Windows. So if a user wants those premium facilities, then he/she will have to obviously pay for that in form of License thats what is referred to as Subscriptions in terms of Red Hat where the User needs to pay for support and upgrades.
Sort of. You can download the upgrades from their website anyway. But you cant get support.
- Microsoft I have heard visits its clients (corporates) to audit whether
they have installed their products on systems exceding than those permitted in the EULA, if found then the clients are Fined. There is a similar clause in Red Hat EULA (discussed in earlier threads).
Yes.
So from a Regular (Desktop) End User perspective I can understand that Microsoft:Windows and Red Hat:Linux
Not at all.
Although we dont have an option of FREE Windows, we though have option for FREE Linux alternatives like Debian, CentOS, Fedora, Ubuntu, Open Suse, etc.
RH is free. As a user you are guaranteed certain rights under various FLOSS licences. Those rights do not go away just because RH says so.