Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2000 04:12:41 -0700 From: Brett Glass <brett@lariat.org> To: Darren Henderson <darren@nighttide.net>, freebsd-chat@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: The Merger, and what will its effects be on committers? Message-ID: <4.2.2.20000311035558.0459ae80@localhost> In-Reply-To: <Pine.BSF.4.21.0003102121260.24889-100000@jasper.nighttide. net> References: <20000311005257.D38803@dogma.freebsd-uk.eu.org>
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At 07:36 PM 3/10/2000 , Darren Henderson wrote: >Walnut Creek did not own FreeBSD, as much as anyone owns it the core >does. WC was a major supporter of FreeBSD and helped it become what it >is today. Well, for all intents and purposes, WC realy has "owned" the right to reproduce FreeBSD. For example, while CheapBytes sells FreeBSD discs (and has for years), the FreeBSD Web site and the documenation in the FreeBSD distributions mention WC *exclusively* as a source of discs. Walnut Creek CD-ROM seems to have been given greatly favored status. While it is true that WC has made large contributions to the project, one must not ignore the conflict of interest generated by the fact that Jordan, David Greenman, and others deeply involved with FreeBSD work for WC either as employees or consultants. Since FreeBSD has been operated as if it were a non-profit (and should be one; hopefully it will be soon), these private inurement and conflict of interest issues should -- no, must -- be addressed. Remember when, on the lists some months ago, Jordan stated quite bluntly that anyone who wanted to use the FreeBSD trademark would have to reveal product plans IN ADVANCE to an employee of Walnut Creek -- even though the product might compete with something WC produced? While appreciation for WC's support is in order, the raising of barriers to entry for newcomers is inappropriate -- especially now that WC and BSDi have merged. Criteria for the use of the FreeBSD trademark, for example, should not favor Walnut Creek/BSDi. Other companies who wish to distribute FreeBSD should NOT be required to reveal future product plans to any employee of a competitor, nor should others' ability to produce novel products be unduly regulated. --Bret Glass To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-chat" in the body of the message
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