> > And if they do things that impinge on their own patents, the GPL
> > says that you cannot use their code, even though it is under the GPL.
> This means MS cannot do fork by using own patents and redistribute
> without breaking the GPL license, this is the poison pill, right? ;-)
The poison pill is the patent. Section 7 of the GPL says, in part:
if a patent license would not permit royalty-free redistribution
of the Program by all those who receive copies directly or
indirectly through you, then the only way you could satisfy both
it and this License would be to refrain entirely from
distribution of the Program.
If you release code with patent encumbrances you could release the entire
thing under GPL, and no other developer could use it. They would still be
forced to either license the patent, or fork and compete without the
functionality.
--- Noel
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