Enterprise open source Toolkit

Story: 'Linux' trademark doesn't matter, says Stallman

• 
• 

I have to agree with "Anonymous Consultant," RMS gets a little too testy about a stand-alone citation of the "Linux" moniker, but that's HIS problem, in my view.

It IS hypocritical of RMS to deny the value of Linux trademark protection, IF indeed he was denying it. Seems he was suggesting the concept of FOSS was more important than any one name, which is true as far as it goes. BUT he should have - and may very well have - supported Linus's right to protect Linux's trademark. But we don't know, and Stallman does have an attitude about "Linux."

Don't get me wrong. RMS has done miracles in the propagation of FOSS, educating people about the process and, of course, the GPL. The source of RMS's, ahem, oversensitivity likely results from his history with the GNU kernel. To whit, *HIS* favorite OS, "GNU/Hurd" didn't draw the dev support and popularity of Linux, ever. It didn't die stillborn, it's still around after a fashion, but it just didn't cut it. No big deal from an OSS standpoint. Some OSes/Distros make it, lots don't. It's called evolution in action...

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

Full Talkback thread