On Monday 13 August 2001 14:28, X - A - W - K wrote:
> If you have some free time you can read this....
>
> Some Questions Every Business Should Ask
>
> About the GNU General Public License (GPL)
>
>
>
> On May 3, 2001, Microsoft publicly described its "Shared Source" approach
> to source code licensing.  Shared Source covers Microsoft's spectrum of
> source access and licensing programs for its customers and partners. 
> Microsoft has contrasted Shared Source with various open source software
> approaches, highlighting both similarities and differences.  We encourage
> companies and individuals to consider carefully to what degree open source
> solutions make sense for them.  While Microsoft does not oppose the concept
> of open source development, we do question the advisability of
> organizations' dependence on the products of a non-commercial community
> rather than commercially developed products that have a sustainable
> business model behind them.
>

I deleted the doublespeak, but left in the latest reversal of policy "Microsoft does 
not oppose...open source 
development."  Wow, what a turnabout from all the trash talk.  I suppose that means 
you don't have
to worry about their new license agreements that are invalidated by use of GPL 
software.

One thing is certain.  If you let your programmers peek at Microsoft source through a 
"shared source"
agreement, you will forever after have to guard yourself most thoroughly in advance 
against being accused
of stealing Microsoft ideas.  There is on this whole planet nothing I can imagine that 
is more poisonous and
chilling to innovation than Microsoft's "shared source" agreement.

Civileme



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