14 DAY TRIAL // Apparently, 90 Australian companies have recently received some unpleasant correspondence. To be more specific, some letters that kindly underline the fact that they should pay a $5.000 license fee for using Linux software.
The issue generated a mediatic hysteria of assumptions and interpretations because Linux has officially kept the silence over the matter.
And the press has taken side with the outraged companies. For example, Sydney Morning Herald induces the idea that Linus Torvalds himself is behind this strategy.
From Linux camp, the only statements, more or less official, came through Jon "Maddog" Hall, executive director for Linux International in U.S. He hasn't dismissed the rumors, but says the problem falls under Australian Linux competency. AL is the local community organization which handles trademark issues for Linux.
Actually, Linux seems to have this policy of managing and supervising the trademark for all the countries, as the Linux Mark Institute has to nominate local bodies to look after the companies' interests in every country.
When accused of hypocrisy on trademark and patent aspects, Hall apparently replied that no company has a restriction on using Linux software, as long as it doesn't use the name and the entire process is meant to protect products quality.
UPDATE
The Linux Software Remains Free of Charge
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