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Re: tlug: PHT's HA Cluster License



>>>>> "Oliver" == Oliver M Bolzer <oliver@example.com> writes:

    Oliver> I think this is all the matter a "code of honor",
    Oliver> aparently PHT has forgotten it along it's way as a Linux
    Oliver> distributor. (common American business practice?)

Um, no, I don't think "American" has anything to do with it.  The risk
here is far higher if the plethora of anecdotes about behavior of
Japanese senior researchers with respect to contributions by students
and buka is anything to go by.  (OTOH, Japanese students and buka can
ride the reputation of their supervisor much farther than Americans
can.  Not really a benefit in the long-run, IMHO, but certainly a
short-run compensation.)

These issues are really tough for free software developers whose _day
job_ is free software.  You really do have to push your uniqueness and
your contributions, if you're planning to contribute the code in the
end.  If people don't associate you with something, how are you going
to make money?  The code won't do it!  It's free!  Every time a
TurboLinux server ships a package, _Red Hat_ gets free advertising
(RPM, no?)  How many times did Scott have to tell us, "No, TL is not
warmed-over Red Hat!"?

Self-marketing doesn't come naturally to most geeks, and free software
types may have more than their share of modesty.  (Cf. ESR's anecdote
about Larry Wall's reaction to being called "alpha hacker.")  It's
quite possible that the PHT faux pas are simply honest choking (eg, by
handing the issue over to professional lawwyers and marketers) in areas
where you really don't want them to be "Slick Willies".  :-)

-- 
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