Novell has announced it will offer its SuSE Linux Enterprise Server customers a new indemnification programme designed to provide an additional measure of protection against certain intellectual property challenges to Linux.
With the completion of Novell`s acquisition of SuSE Linux, Novell is now unique among Linux vendors in offering a full stack Linux solution, providing global technical support for Linux, and, through its new Novell Linux Indemnification Programme, giving enterprise customers additional reassurance about deploying Linux in their organisations.
"Novell is committed to the success of Linux," says Stafford Masie, Novell SA country manager. "With our new indemnification programme, we are reducing the barriers to the adoption of Linux in the enterprise."
Linux and open source solutions have grown rapidly in recent years, moving from peripheral uses into more business-critical functions. As enterprises consider making strategic investments in Linux, they face the question of indemnification, a standard component of most traditional proprietary software offerings but generally unavailable for Linux. Novell`s Linux Indemnification Programme will afford qualifying Novell Linux customers a measure of protection against potential copyright infringement claims.
Novell`s indemnification programme is designed for enterprise customers of Linux. Under the programme:
Indemnification is offered for copyright infringement claims made by third-parties against registered Novell customers who obtain SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 and who after 12 January 2004 obtain upgrade protection and a qualifying technical support contract from Novell or a participating Novell or SuSE Linux channel partner.
Additional details on the programme are available at http://www.novell.com/licensing/indemnity.
Novell`s unique legal rights:
Novell has also released additional information on the unique contractual and intellectual property rights it holds because of its position in the historical ownership chain of Unix and UnixWare. These rights include:
* Novell`s rights to license Unix technology pursuant to a technology licence agreement between SCO and Novell, including Novell`s right to authorise its customers to use that Unix technology in their internal business operations.
* Novell`s rights to take action on behalf of SCO under legacy Unix SVRX licences pursuant to the asset purchase agreement between SCO and Novell.
* As previously confirmed by Novell, copyright registrations on Unix SVRX releases are consistent with Novell`s position that it retained ownership of these copyrights.
Special programme for current Linux users:
For those enterprise users of Linux who are not currently Novell SuSE Linux customers, Novell will soon announce a special programme whereby they can become Novell SuSE Linux customers and participate in the indemnification programme. "We believe our new Linux indemnification programme, supported by our unique legal rights, will provide enterprise customers with one more reason to include Linux in their information technology plans," concludes Masie.
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