Ubuntu introduces commercial repository
July 9, 2006
Well, it’s hardly a surprise : Canonical now offers non-free commercial software. For a while, there was talk of Linspire’s CNR being used for this purpose, which would of course encompass a lot more, including payments. But for the moment, to get around the icky topics of Opera and RealPlayer, Canonical have setup a new repo.
I think this is a good thing. Sure, we could wait for these programs to be opened, in the way Java did (is? may ? will ?), but for a lot of programs that is probably going to stay unlikely for a long time. And open-source can coexist with commercial software.
Entry Filed under: ubuntu. .
4 Comments Add your own
Leave a Comment
Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <pre> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed
1. John’s blog » Blog Archive » New repository for commercial software in Ubuntu | July 11, 2006 at 12:41 pm
[...] A temporary solution until something better comes up? Perhaps it’s a temporary solution as Baykus thinks at his blog: For a while, there was talk of Linspire’s CNR being used for this purpose, which would of course encompass a lot more, including payments. But for the moment, to get around the icky topics of Opera and RealPlayer, Canonical have setup a new repo. [...]
2.
Marc | July 11, 2006 at 11:52 pm
Yeah, offering the choice is a good idea I think.
3.
Limulus | July 12, 2006 at 10:32 pm
Regarding Java, consider that Ubuntu’s repositories are pretty much divided up based on licensing:
FOSS programs sit in main or universe, depending on if Ubuntu supports them or not.
non-FOSS (or not completely FOSS) software sits in restricted or multiverse, again depending on if Ubuntu supports them or not (the reason Ubuntu supports some proprietary/not completely free software is that its related to the proprietary hardware in people’s machines
. However, they must all be redistributable.
non-FOSS, non-redistributable software under special license to Canonical goes in the new commercial repository. (non-FOSS, non-redistributable software goes to the PLF
think w32codecs 
Note that originally Java, Opera and RealPlayer 10 all sat in the PLF. Java changed its license enough that it was moved into multiverse, while Opera and RP10 granted Canonical redistribution priviliges. Hopefully, one day noot too distant, Sun will release Java under a fully free license and it can be moved into universe or main.
4.
baykus | July 13, 2006 at 8:20 pm
Limulus sums up the history of ubuntu repos quite well. Yes, Java is indeed moving towards a Free as in speech license (although they will probably retain restrictions on the name “Java” so as to avoid the embrace & extend approach Microsoft tried with J+). There has been a lot of pressure on Sun to open it up, with a significant amount coming from the Linux community. It’s fantastic to see that these voices have been heard.
It’s also great that Opera and RP have come to an understanding with Canonical – I never quite understood the reasoning behind their restrictions anyway. Still, it shows that Ubuntu & Linux are catching people’s attention !