Sun's Open Source commitment, part II (or III?)

Just weeks after Sun Microsystems announced it was embracing Linux, questions continue about its seriousness. Some reports this week had Sun planning to charge for its previously free StarOffice suite. NewsForge/Linux.com columnist Jack Bryar noted Sun's half-hearted denial and suggested Sun has other credibility problems among Open Source/Free Software fans.

On the other hand, Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols also reported that Sun is tempting soon-to-be-abandoned Windows NT users with a discounted Linux/Cobalt package.

In other news ...

Programmers discovered a security flaw in some versions of Linux that could "allow protective firewall software to grant malicious computer users access to protected networks." The flaw could be exploited when two computer users chat on IRC.

A U.S. Senate committee conducted first hearing for the Security Systems Standards and Certification Act, which "would require government mandated copy prevention technology in future digital devices that would give Hollywood control over how consumers can use digital content," so says the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Tech leaders told senators to back off, but Democrats seem to be fond of the bill.

Microsoft's and the U.S. Justice Department disclosed several changes to the proposed antitrust settlement between the two after criticism from legal experts and the public over the slap on the wrist Microsoft was getting. Apparently, Microsoft thought the changes minor enough to call them "clarifying changes," and some critics are still being critical.

Newly reviewed

Newly released

The Opera 6.0 beta for Linux was announced.

New at NewsForge and Linux.com

Other stories that NewsForge and Linux.com reported first this week:

Stock news

The Nasdaq took an encouraging swing upward for the week, the first weekly rise since the week of January 25. The Nasdaq started the week at 1724.54 and closed Friday at 1,802.74. Our list of Open Source-related stocks followed that trend, with 10 up for the week and one, Caldera, holding at 52 cents.

Caldera did report its quarterly results, with the company saying its net loss of $11 million, or 19 cents per share, was met its own predictions.

Here's how Open Source and related stocks ended this past week: