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List:       kde-devel
Subject:    Re: Name changes to X Applications?
From:       Mosfet <mosfet () jorsm ! com>
Date:       1999-11-08 3:06:45
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Erich Forler wrote:
> 
> > 1) Even with beta's sources have to be available
> 
> There's room for some interpretation in the licenses, but regardless, we did provide
> the source for the beta in response to community request.
> 
> > 2) It should also be apparent the idea of Open Source is not a
> > "we'll-release-after-we're-done" mentality, but rather
> > "we'll-release-as-we-go" so that people can test and change to make it
> > better.
> 
> I agree but there's a difference between when a single developer releases code and when
> a company releases code for a product. When the most respected developer releases code
> his/her reputation is on the line which has a high value but when a company releases
> code under its name it puts the value of its name and brand behind that code. That
> value can translate into millions of dollars. The more recognizable the company, the
> greater the risk in releasing code early. In the case of Corel Linux, we needed to get
> the product to a point where we considered it acceptable for public discussion. Despite
> being based on the strong foundations of Debian and KDE, there are critical areas of
> new development in the distribution.
> 

Nonsense. Linux and Debian, X Windows at MIT, the GNU C compiler, Emacs,
KDE, Wine, and most likely the vast majority of the tools you are using
to attempt to generate this product you hope will translate to "millions
of dollars" were developed totally in an open fashion. It has harmed no
one's reputation. There is no justification for Corel to be any
different, esp. when dealing with code that isn't yours. By subscribing
to the above attitude Corel didn't succeed in maintaining a reputation,
it only served to harm it by forking other people's code.

If you develop your own code it's up to you how you do things. But while
not legally obligated, forking other people's code in secret will not
gain you friends in the free software community and certainly does not
cast Corel in a positive light.

> I can only say that future development from Corel will be much more Open since we will
> have an established shipping product. I don't expect you to necessarily believe me at
> this time, but the next few months should make this change apparent.

I hope so.

> 
> Erich Forler
> Product Development Manager
> Corel Linux

-- 
Daniel M. Duley - Unix developer & sys admin.
mosfet@mandrakesoft.com
mosfet@kde.org
mosfet@jorsm.com

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