OpenSUSE Henceforth Without EULA
Free Linux distro openSUSE will from now on release without an end-user license agreement. The project will be using the same license notice as their competitor Fedora.
Software installation commonly involves completing an End-User License Agreement (EULA), mostly with just mouse clicks, but often requiring registration of personal data. The open source openSUSE has been no exception. Things will change as of version 11.1, however. "The days of agreeing to a click-through EULA for openSUSE are over!" says community manager Joe "Zonker" Brockmeier in his Spotlight forum. A click-through EULA will be replaced by a simple license notice. According to Zonker, users will be made aware of the rights associated with the free and open source software (FOSS) license notice that will be displayed. The inclusive package from openSUSE consisting of the OS itself together with numerous free software packages will be licensed under GNU General Public License version 2 (GPLv2). Additionally third-party-software will be under their individual licenses. Also new is that the main DVD will contain only software that users can distribute freely. According to Zonker, "We now have a license that presents no obstacle to redistribution, and no obstacle for modification."
The similarity of openSUSE's licensing with that of Fedora's is no coincidence. Despite their competition, they still have Linux in common. Consider their histories. OpenSUSE is Novell's version of a free Linux that is the code basis for the commercial SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES), while the free Fedora project plays a similar role for Red Hat’s RHEL. At least the leaders of the respective communities felt it was
time to collaborate on licensing. Hence, Zonker was quick to thank Fedora project leader Paul Frields for his cooperation.
Zonker cites a number of reasons for the FOSS licensing choice. One is that there was no point in reinventing the wheel, another is that Fedora offered the license freely. "Fedora’s license has worked for them, and there’s no reason it wouldn’t work for us. Reuse is one of the strengths of our community, after all," he explained. He also advised other projects to adopt a similar strategy, perhaps alluding to a recent licensing brouhaha at Ubuntu where users were faced with the possibility of having to address a Mozilla EULA during installation. Mozilla's decision was short lived. After some protest, it retracted the EULA plan (see article).
The issue has been settled at openSUSE, and Zonker promises that trademarks will come next: "We are also working on trademark guidelines that clarify how and when the openSUSE marks can be used, and we’ll be releasing those shortly." Zonker is happy with the new licensing for openSUSE 11.1 and ends emphatically with "The EULA is dead, long live the new and improved license notice!"
Comments
comments powered by DisqusSubscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
![Learn More](https://www.linux-magazine.com/var/linux_magazin/storage/images/media/linux-magazine-eng-us/images/misc/learn-more/834592-1-eng-US/Learn-More_medium.png)
News
-
Canonical Offers 12-Year LTS for Open Source Docker Images
Canonical is expanding its LTS offering to reach beyond the DEB packages with a new distro-less Docker image.
-
Plasma Desktop 6.1 Released with Several Enhancements
If you're a fan of Plasma Desktop, you should be excited about this new point release.
-
SUSE Offers CentOS 7 Support with Liberty Linux Lite
SUSE's Liberty Linux support offering now includes CentOS 7, which means businesses won't be forced to migrate those servers for some time.
-
Ubuntu's App Center Finally Supports Local Installs Again
If you regularly download .deb files and would prefer a GUI method of installing, Ubuntu has your back.
-
AlmaLinux Now Supports Raspberry Pi 5
If you're looking to create with the Raspberry Pi 5 and want to use AlmaLinux as your OS, you're in luck because it's now possible.
-
Kubuntu Focus Releases New Iterations of Ir14 and Ir16 Laptops
If you're a fan of the Kubuntu Focus laptops or have been waiting for the right time to purchase one, that time might be now.
-
NixOS 24.05 Is Ready for Prime Time
The latest release of NixOS (Uakari) has arrived and offers its usual reproducible, declarative, and reliable goodness.
-
Linux Lite 7.0 Officially Released
Based on Ubuntu 24.04 and kernel 6.8, Linux Lite version 7 now offers more options than ever.
-
KaOS Linux 2024.05 Adds Bcachfs Support and More
With updates all around, KaOS Linux now includes support for the bcachefs file system.
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils New Iteration of the Stellaris Laptop Line
The Stellaris Slim 15 is the 6th generation and includes either an AMD or Intel CPU
About time