Novell SuSE Linux users get protection
Saturday, 25 December 2004Novell has launched an indemnification scheme to protect its SuSE Linux Enterprise Server customers against what it described as "certain intellectual property challenges to Linux".
Novell's Linux Indemnification Programme follows a similar announcement from Hewlett Packard last year, but is not limited to copyright infringement claims from The SCO Group.
To qualify, customers must be running SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 and, after 12 January, obtain upgrade protection and a qualifying technical support contract from Novell or a Novell or SuSE Linux channel partner.
The programme launch was timed to coincide with the closing of Novell's acquisition of SuSE Linux. SCO previously indicated it would consider launching a lawsuit against Novell/SuSE Linux once the deal was completed.
Novell conceded that SCO's controversial intellectual property claims over core elements of the Linux kernel had created a barrier for enterprise adoption of Linux.
"The SCO case is hanging over the customers' choice of technology as a bit of a cloud. It is not a major inhibitor but an industry issue hanging out there," said Steve Brown, UK managing director at Novell.
"The indemnification of the market follows what HP has done. It's a strong move. It is the custodian taking risks and having the confidence to make it a public statement."
The level of risk was covered within Novell's normal risk calculations so no special fund had been created, he added.
The company also emphasised that the indemnification was backed by its "unique legal rights". These include the claim that Novell, not SCO, owns the Unix copyrights.
But Peter Dawes-Huish, sales director at Novell partner LinuxIT, was unimpressed with the scheme, despite acknowledging that his "customer-driven" company would make users aware of it as needed.
"This is a cynical ploy to gain market share. Scratch the veneer to see what's underneath. In the worst-case scenario that SCO wins, Novell is bankrupt and nobody gets paid," he said.
"But I give little credence to SCO's claims. SCO's arguments do not stand up. Most of my customers have already considered their options."
Novell will soon announce a similar indemnification programme for enterprise Linux users who migrate to Novell SuSE Linux.
Source: vnunet.com via Yahoo
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