The open source movement happened quietly for all but those of us who are most aware of up-to-date technology news. It was a movement started in the late ‘90’s to allow for users to view source codes and make alterations to them with the purpose of improving existing computer programs and then redistributing them for wider use.

One of the most well-known names in the open source business today is Jeremy Allison. He is most recognized for his work on Samba, the program which allows open source updates to Linux through a Windows-based system. Today, however, he is making the news not for his technology skill but for his choice to leave employer Novell in order, in part, to be able to further the goals of the open source movement.

Allison’s resignation from Novell comes as a result of what he feels are limitations on his work created by a patent agreement which Novell has with Microsoft. There is nothing legally wrong with the agreement between Novell and Microsoft. However, Allison and many others feel that the agreement crosses the boundaries of the open source movement in that it does not allow for equal rights to all of the program’s users.

Allison plans to continue his work on Samba but will be doing so through new employment at Google, a company known for supporting the open source movement.

Read ZDNet Australia for additional information.