Sun CEO Schwartz Slams Microsoft-Novell Pact

Sun boss Jonathan Schwartz has joined in criticism of the Microsoft-Novell deal, saying it is bad for the open-source movement.

Following Samba’s criticism early this week, Schwartz said he profoundly disagreed with the idea that open-source software is unsafe without the “no use” arrangements agreed on between Microsoft and Novell.

Sun CEO Schwartz

In his blog, Schwartz candidly admits that the motive for making Java open source through the open-source General Public License (GPL) method was to counteract the idea that “free and open source software wasn’t safe unless a royalty was being paid.” Schwartz bluntly said: “That’s nonsense.”

“Free software can be free of royalties, and free of impediments to broadscale, global adoption and deployment. Witness what we’ve done with Solaris, and now, what we’ve done with Java. Developers are free to pick up the code, and create derivatives. Without royalty or obligation.

“Those that say open source software can’t be safe for customers—or that commercially indemnified software can’t foster community—are merely advancing their own agenda. Without any basis in fact.”

What this riposte to the deal between Novell and Microsoft means for the Sun-Microsoft relationship isn’t clear. That relationship, like the Microsoft-Novell one, had a key component relating to the parties involved agreeing not to sue each other. Novell, one might think, is merely following Sun’s lead in negotiating its own arrangement with Microsoft.