openSUSE 11.1 Ditches the EULA
by Kristin Shoemaker - Nov. 26, 2008Comments (1)- Related Blog Posts
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Joe "Zonker" Brockmeier, openSUSE community manager, announced this morning that openSUSE 11.1 RC1 will not only sport new features and bug fixes, but a new license. The openSUSE release is licensed under the GNU GPL version 2, with the included packages retaining their governing licenses.
Previously, openSUSE installations required an agreement with the terms of the distribution's license. With the 11.1 RC1 release, the license text will be displayed at installation so that the user is aware of the license, but clicking "I agree" won't be necessary. Brockmeier says that this licensing is based on Fedora's license procedures, and that work is being done to clarify trademark guidelines in openSUSE to make redistribution easier.
The upcoming 11.1 DVD release will not include any software that openSUSE -- or anyone wishing to redistribute it -- would be unable to redistribute freely. In the past, the DVD versions of openSUSE included software with non-free licenses, such as Flash, Java, and the Acrobat Reader, on the media. This does not mean that they will not be available in an easy-install format for openSUSE -- Brockmeier indicates in the announcement's comment section that adding any desired non-free packages can be easily done through the first (or any subsequent) system updates.
Those wishing to redistribute, remaster, and get hands on with openSUSE's inner workings will no doubt welcome the simpler, straightforward licensing. Clearer explanations on trademark use will also, no doubt, be a cause for celebration for those who've found determining what branding needs to be removed for redistribution puzzling.
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