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Judge Says Microsoft Must Give States Windows Code

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the wheels-of-justice-grinding-slowly-but-unsurely dept.

murphro (along with many others) writes, "Reuters is posting a story describing how the Judge has ordered the release of Windows code to the states seeking antitrust sanctions. I doubt it will actually happen (because MS will fight it this to the end). But if it did, do you think we commoners would ever see it? And if you did get your hands on the code, what would you do with it?" Here's the Yahoo link. (The same Reuters story is on dozens of other sites, too.)

7 of 574 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I may be wrong but...... by mESSDan · · Score: 4, Informative
    You are wrong. A judge's order to release the code in no way puts it into the public domain, or part of the public record. (IANAL)

    As for not finding some parts of the code, simply provide a court order to one of the universities who already have it.

    --

    -- Dan
  2. Purpose by pergamon · · Score: 3, Informative
    Before everyone offers clever comments about what they'll do with the source code when they get it, note that individual average citizens won't be getting the source code (at least not as a result of this ruling, except in the case of leaks). They're not talking about handing over the code so everyone can see it, it is only to be used for a specific purpose by specific people. The "states" will get it, meaning the people representing the states involved in the case such as the attorney generals, other lawyers, and most importantly expert witnesses. They're not getting access to the source code to determine whether it sucks or to help the Samba team out, but only to determine the validity of one specific argument made by MS:
    Nine state attorneys general had argued that they needed to see the Windows source code in order to verify Microsoft's claim it could not offer a simpler version of the Windows personal computer operating system, stripped of features like the Internet Explorer browser.
  3. CNN/Gallup Poll on this topic - GO VOTE! by Knunov · · Score: 5, Informative

    Go to CNN.COM and scroll down to the bottom of the main page.

    On the bottom right there is a poll asking the question, "Was a judge correct in ordering Microsoft to reveal the coding for its Windows program?"

    As of a couple minutes ago, 69% of respondants were saying 'NO'. That majority is probably comprised of clueless MS users and a voting bot running at Redmond right now, but still.

    And no, 'Cowboy Neal' is not a choice.

    Knunov

    --
    Why do users with IDs under 100,000 or over 700,000 usually have the most worthwhile comments?
  4. Re:I may be wrong but...... by teaserX · · Score: 4, Informative

    IANAL either but I think the code *would* be public record but kept as a sealed document, ie. public record exempt from public disclosure.

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    We really need your help
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  5. Re:Of course IE can be removed... READ! by nosfucious · · Score: 3, Informative

    I think we need a few more programs like IEEradicator. Microsoft have already produced enough of thier own versions to spare.

    Let's just think of the various MS programs and what they hoped to achieve:

    DOS = CP/M Eradicator
    W3.x = DOS App Eradicator
    W95 = OS/2 Eradicator
    W98 (with IE) = Netscape Eradicator
    NT4 = Novell Eradicator
    Office DLL/kernel integration = Wordperfect/Quattro Pro/Dbase Eradicator
    Visual Studio = Borland Eradicator
    W2K Server = Samba Eradicator (not while I'm alive!)
    Media Player = RealPlayer Eradicator
    XP = Privacy and "Fair use" Eradicator

    --
    Q:I was listening to a CD in Grip and it sounded horrible! What's up? A:Perhaps you are listening to country music
  6. The real victory by Paul+the+Bold · · Score: 3, Informative

    The real victory here is Judge Kollar-Kotelly's attitude. She has been an unknown for many months, and we are now starting to see her attitude. I like it. She is not going to give Microsoft the benefit of the doubt, but she is not going to appear partial to the states. She is going to be fair, and she is not going to be easily fooled. The outcome might not be my pipe dream ("Bill, fetch me another mocha."), but I have faith in the judge.

    As for the debate ensuing here, I have my answers:

    Is the code in the public domain?
    No.

    If it were, would it be ethical or legal to use it to make our open source projects better?
    No (we do not want to make Microsoft a victim in any way).

    Are there faked nude celebrity photos of the judge on the internet?
    Give it time, young grassshopper.

  7. Re:Of course IE can be removed... READ! by ryusen · · Score: 3, Informative

    personally, i never cared for real player either... but shortly after i tried wmp7 i promotly got rid of it for the same reasons i got rid of real player... i've been using wmp6.4 since...

    the enemy of my enemy is just as bad as my enemy

    so now we have two irritating bloated programs that are trying to take over the media sphere...
    --

    I believe sex is highly over rated... unless it involves me