Microsoft's StrategyForum: water cooler Topic: Microsoft's Strategy started by: camzmac Posted by camzmac on Feb. 07 2005,03:57
On the DSL start page I decided to click one of the sponsored links at the side to help raise some money for the creators, and without immediately noticing it, I clicked on one that said this:
Microsoft seems to be targeting their advertising so that on pro-Linux sites it will link to their crap. I saw this on Tom's Hardware Guide, also. So what do you think of this? Posted by SaidinUnleashed on Feb. 07 2005,05:14
Meh. Who cares?I, for one, will never go back to the cold, slimy clutches of M$. I'd sooner move to OSX. -J.P. Posted by ke4nt1 on Feb. 07 2005,08:09
You have to admit, though..Having a "clickable" link to some M$ F.U.D. on the DSL website is NOT exactly kosher in my eyes... just to generate revenues from traffic.. There was some heated debate at Distrowatch recently over this very thing, and some sites that Distrowatch blacklisted for this very reason. I saw a similar link to easylinuxcds.com earlier this week, which sells DSL CD's in direct competition with this website. (I'm guessing they don't send John or Robert any checks from proceeds.) 73 ke4nt Posted by green on Feb. 08 2005,23:37
that's just friggin wrong. the depths that some people sink to is beyond my comprehension. M$ blows, and we know this. No big surprise at any tactics they would use. I also would go to OSX before going kicking and screaming to McGates of my own free will. AND and dirtbag who is selling DSL cd's BETTER be contributing to the developers. If not, they should be shamed in public.
Posted by mikshaw on Feb. 09 2005,04:15
It's perhaps not morally the best thing to sell DSL without contributing to the project, but is there anything in the distro to prevent this? All the programs are GPL, which means anyone can do practically anything with them. The additional DSL scripts are the only things I can think of which may prevent others from profiting from the work of John, Robert, etc, but what copyright limitations are in place for those scripts?
Posted by ke4nt1 on Feb. 09 2005,06:19
RANT_MODE=ENABLEDYou are correct, mikshaw. Anyone should be able to sell any copies of GPL'd items without issue. That's one of the joys of using the GPL as license for a work or works. Same as if you and I were to begin creating our own DSL fork, or unique version, or even a facsimile of DSL, or only a few additions or mods. Many companies are doing this with DSL on the web right now e.g. Metropipe . You can usually find mention of DSL or John, and even a link, for support. Many folks offering "remasters" for little or no cost post here, and market their "versions", but credit is given where credit is DUE.. But again, I restate that I don't like to see the anti-linux FUD from M$ here, and I don't like to see a direct competitor post their advertisements here, for products developed and made RIGHT HERE AT DSL. Having a "fork" of DSL listed here is only a testament to the worthyness someone has for the DSL product. Even having it used "as-is" , and simply placed in a different wrapper, and sold under another name is OK, as long as the original authors are recognized and credited ( like DSL does knoppix and debian ) But selling it as DSL , and advertising it as DSL, AT DSL! not as another distro, but ONLY to earn revenues from sales of a replicated, copied product, in my eyes, crosses the line. Have no doubt I know that they CAN do it, for free via GPL, and without recompense to John or Robert... But I don't feel they should post their advertisements HERE.. I mean, if you go here.. < http://www.easylinuxcds.com/catalog...._id=312 > Do you think you will find a link back to here ? to buy CD's ? for info ? no... Even a mere mention of John Andrews or Robert Shingledecker ? no... How about a link to www.damnsmalllinux.org, or dslos.com ? no... So, what are they doing here, besides taking food off of DSL's plate? Or, giving visitors FUD for thought? RANT_MODE=DISABLED 73 ke4nt Posted by gity on Feb. 09 2005,10:34
as the creator you oughta give them an email about that. maybe they were ignorant (doubt that) but let's just be polite first. if they slam the door on your face then do something drastic. john actually has the rights to damnsmalllinux
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