Linux luminaries including Linus Torvalds and Jon 'maddog' Hall attempted to answer this question during a low-key panel session in the darkest depths of Comdex this week. In a debate about the internationalisation of Linux, the panel was asked whether Linux would suffer the same problems with software piracy that Microsoft and others have in areas such as Asia and Eastern Europe. The 200 or so delegates heard several opinions, but none that nailed down the awkward question.
Torvalds, founder of the Linux operating system, said piracy is part of the development process for the computing industry. "The way the computing industry came to be was through piracy, it drove the acceptance of standards," he said.
News: Forums
