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

[Sean Sprague]

Tim,

All right, I have my "thick idiot" hat well and truly in place for this.

> 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.
>   

All fine and understood.

> 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.
>   

Now here's where I have a comprehension problem. Firstly OpenSolaris is 
the first fully-redistributable Sun-crafted operating environment.  Now 
you say that  on top of this, from pkg.sun.com you can layer software 
which renders your base OpenSolaris installation no longer open and 
redistributable. This feels the same as building opensolaris from the 
code base, and then having to include all the closed-bins stuff to make 
it no longer fully open. So realistically, for your distro-developer, 
you have to say "don't install anything from pkg.sun.com, otherwise you 
could will be liable to be infringing licensing of some kind; oh, and if 
you do, please have your credit card handy". OK; I s'pose I can go for 
that. But is this correct?

Reading the title of the email, "redistribution of the OpenSolaris 
updates", surely if you install anything from pkg.sun.com, then you de 
facto are no longer running OpenSolaris - rather just an 
unredistributable hybrid. Rather a useless beast, as it is no longer 
OpenSolaris - the redistributable distro, nor Solaris-anything-else; and 
I guess no longer supportable within the OpenSolaris paid-for 
subscription framework? Or has/is a means been/being put in place to 
cater for this?

Any clarification (even if it is just "oh be quiet and go away") 
gratefully received.

Regards... Sean.