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Microsoft Tech Specs Prohibit GPL Implementations

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the difference-between-trust-and-anti-trust dept.

abartlet writes "As described in this Advogato entry, MS is trying to pull a swifty with their latest 'release' of their CIFS (the networked filesystem Samba implements) Technical Reference. The licence specifically prohibits any GPLed or (or LGPLed) program from implementing it, defining it as an 'IPR Impairing Licence'! Fortunately the CIFS community is about to release its own Technical Reference based on earlier MS documents and long experience in attempting to interoperate with the MS product." Microsoft's claim is completely ungrounded - nothing written by a third-party can take away Microsoft's intellectual property rights. But it makes a good (read: confusing to the general public) justification for preventing others from interoperating with their software.

3 of 803 comments (clear)

  1. Another competitor / another monopoly abuse by ch-chuck · · Score: 2, Offtopic

    It just goes on and on and on. It's like those people in the antitrust trial are lost in space, wasting vast amounts of time and effort dwelling over finer and finer points of legalese (which is exactly what Msft wants, splitting hairs indefinately) while the abuse of power goes on and on and on.

    --
    try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
  2. Re:Ugh! by Spankophile · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Obviously he's not getting any advice from anybody.

    "ungrounded" isn't even a word.

    Perhaps he meant groundless? Or unFOUNDed.

    Ugh is right.

  3. Re:Ladies and Gentlemen of the "Supposed Jury"... by GTRacer · · Score: 1, Offtopic
    A: That was funny!! Well-done SP reference!

    B: (A) excluded, you STILL deserve mod points for getting the spellings of 'Wookiee' and 'Kashyyyk' right. Self-proclaimed Star Wars freaks who keep blowing 'Wookiee' get on my nerves...

    GTRacer
    - Yes, I do have better things to do, and No, I don't care

    --
    Defending IP by destroying access to it? That makes sense, RIAA/MPAA. Go to the corner until you can play nice!