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[Jonathan Growall <jong dsg com>]

-----Original Message-----
From: Robb Sands [mailto:rsands celeritytech com]
Sent: Thursday, September 02, 1999 1:38 PM
To: redhat-install-list redhat com
Subject: RE: Red Hat GPL No Longer Available


The root of the problem is name use precedence.  For 5 years Red Hat has
been endorsing people like Cheap Bytes, LSL, Linux Mall and others in their
labeling of CD's as Red Hat Linux.  If you buy one of them today it says on
the top of the CD, Red Hat Linux.

Now we will be forced to refer to the 'free' distribution of Red Hat Linux
as 'The Distribution formerly known as Red Hat Linux' or something similar,
maybe Blue Linux, Red Shat Linux, or RedHat Linux (no spaces)...

Bob Youngs letter is more than a little confusing.  Check it out at:
http://linuxtoday.com/stories/9466.html

Independent Vendors (anyone not owned by Red Hat) must call their CD's and
advertising materials something other than Red Hat linux.   Bob says, "So we
request that independent vendors call their product something other than Red
Hat...".

This means Cheap Bytes, LSL, LinuxMall and the rest will be forced to
relabel every piece of 'free' software bearing the Red Hat name.  OUCH!
There have been many colorful suggestions for alternate names, my preference
being FRed Hat (you guess what the F stands for).  Dunno if it will be
legal, but it's guaranteed to please :P

One problem with Bobs letter is where he contradicts himself stating, "All
of the reputable vendors of low-cost CD-ROMS that contain free ftp
downloaded versions of Red Hat Linux follow this policy without our even
requesting it."  This couldn't be further from the truth.  Go buy a copy
from all the vendors mentioned above and look at the top header of each CD.
Prominently displayed will be, "Red Hat Linux" - a direct violation of the
copyright.  Boy am I confused...

Thank GOD I have written permission from Red Hat to use the name Red Hat
Linux on the distributions I sell, pursuant to Bobs statement, "So we grant
permission to use our trademarked names generously to those who ask
permission." and have had such since 12/98.

Bottom line, if you want to sell a 'free' version of Red Hat Linux, you
better write legal redhat com and ask for permission before their generous
granting of permissions dry up.


Robb
Seller of the Distribution formerly known as Red Hat 'Free' Linux


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