---
author: einar
comments: true
date: 2006-12-07 11:49:58+00:00
layout: post
slug: zealotry
title: Zealotry
wordpress_id: 136
categories:
- Linux
---

I'm really saddened by the fanatic tone that a part of FOSS community is using to criticize the Novell-Microsoft deal. It should be noted that personally I don't like the deal _at all_, since Microsoft has a good history of stomping on its partners when they're no loner needed. But still, the reactions from the community are [too strong](http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20061102175508403), sometimes leading to (involuntary) [disinformation](http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20061204130954610).

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You should have noticed that both links come from [Groklaw](http://www.groklaw.net). I like the legal articles published there, but not the moralistic attitude of posts like the ones I have linked. The  "community" inside, while being extremely helpful and cooperative, sometimes is a little one-sided. I didn't like [being called "traitor"](http://www.groklaw.net/comment.php?mode=display&sid=20061204130954610&title=So+you+are+just+fine+with...&type=article&order=&hideanonymous=0&pid=512563#c512575) because I had a different stance on the topic than everyone else.

The same can be said for GPL v3: Groklaw is excessively pro-GPL v3, and (sadly) doesn't contemplate anything else (see the discussion between PJ and Linus Torvalds to get an idea). It's a shame, since the legal analysis of IBM vs SCO is interesting and insightful. I'd actually prefer if it would cover just legal cases of interest to FOSS, rather than being a form of propaganda for certain software ideas.
