[indiana-discuss] License and redistribution of the OpenSolaris updates

[Tim Cramer]

There are 2 separate things.
1. OpenSolaris 2008.05 and all software packages on pkg.opensolaris.org 
which are fully redistributable are free to use and deploy.
2. There will be a set of non-redistributable software which may require 
either payment or simply a click-through type license which will be on 
pkg.sun.com, which you can freely (or use via payment where applicable) 
use but can't redistribute.   We expect this to be available sometime in 
mid to late June.
3. You can purchase support for the base level OpenSolaris software.  
Sun will not support the FOSS software on top of OpenSolaris.   When 
purchasing support you (depending on the level of support purchased) 
have the ability to log escalations and obtain package fixes which will 
be available only to paying subscription/support holders.   These are 
the "updates" that are being discussed which require a license/token.

FOSS updates are obviously free to use.

Laurent Blume wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I'm reading the fine-print on OpenSolaris, and there's something that I 
> don't find very clear, maybe it's something that was overlooked.
>
> There is that entry in the FAQ:
>
> Q:
> I have multiple systems running OpenSolaris, how many subscriptions do I 
> need?
> A:
> A separate OpenSolaris Subscription is required for every system to 
> which you apply Software Updates (with the limited exception of Security 
> Patches and Device Drivers). You must have either a Sun System Service 
> Plan or an OpenSolaris Subscription in place for each system or a 
> site-wide support contract like Solaris Everywhere that covers all your 
> systems.
>
> http://www.sun.com/service/opensolaris/faq.xml#q11
>
> First, there's the obvious: beyond the Security and Device drivers, all 
> updates that contain GPL'd or other FOSS code don't need a subscription, 
> obviously.
>
> But also, the OpenSolaris.com website include the following sentence, 
> which is contradictory:
>
> All of these licenses permit use, copying and redistribution of the 
> software.
>
> http://www.opensolaris.com/get/index.html
>
> Does that mean that there is a separate license for the updates, that 
> restricts the rights in a different way (at least for those updates for 
> which the license allows it)?
>
> Can anybody explain that?
>
> TIA,
>
> Laurent
>