MS to Implement Some DoJ Settlement Terms Preemptively

lysurgon writes: "The New York Times (free registration, blah blah blah) is reporting that Microsoft will today announce it is taking some steps in implementing parts of the original DoJ settlement, a settlement which is still under review and not yet official. It's seen as a tactic to influence Judge Kollar-Kotelly's deliberation on the more stringent restrictions asked for by nine states attorneys general. Looks like MS wants to get off making some cosmetic changes (no surprise there), but given their rather stormy relationship with the judge, it could backfire. The other interesting thing is that at this stage, without an official ruling, no matter what they do or why they say they're doing it it's legally voluntary." Update: 08/05 17:00 GMT by T : HeUnique adds a link to another story on ZDnet which tosses in a few numbers while remaining fairly vague on what exactly will be released and under what terms.

Comments

Good and Bad...

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm not optimistic about the whole settlement, but is it possible MS is changing? Seriously, is it possible MS is taking a different approach and is softening? Given the huge amount of attention on security by the government and the public, is MS actually changing? Not that anyone at /. would for definitively, but what is really happening with the latest move?

Sure, right.

[Valiss]

Microsoft is about as clear on details as this Monty Python quote on politics:

"I think that all good, right thinking people in this country are sick and tired of being told that all good, right thinking people in this country are fed up with being told that all good, right thinking people in this country are fed up with being sick and tired. I'm certainly not, and I'm sick and tired of being told that I am."

now THAT's interesting....

[jeffy124]

load up the page of comments and see an ad of Microsoft Visual Studio .NET.

Microsoft's legal defense

[Guppy06]

Please don't throw me into that briar patch, your honor!

Re:M$ to Reveal Windows Source Code!

[Anonymous Coward]

Yahoo! is reporting [yahoo.com] M$ will reveal over 300 "pieces" of Windows source code as a part of the settlement.

For those who can't wait, here's a small preview:

1) while (x > y) {

2) #include

3) return;

All these (and more!) will be yours when Microsoft releases the 300 "pieces" of Windows source code.

Of course, if any of these "pieces" turn up in GPL code, ir will be a clear case of infrignment.

Bill: All your pieces are belong to us.

Re:M$ to Reveal Windows Source Code!

[saddino]

InitWindows() {
long futzLevel = 0;

if(RealMediaIsInstalled()) {
futzLevel++;
ReclaimMIME();
}

if(QuickTimeIsInstalled()) {
futzLevel++;
ReclaimMIME();
}

if(NetscapeIsInstalled()) {
futzLevel++;
AddMSIEIconToDesktop();
}

if(AOLIsInstalled()) {
futzLevel++;
AddMSNIconToDesktop();
}

if(JavaIsInstalled()) {
futzLevel++;
SetIEFailureLevel(GetRandom(7));
}

AddBriefcaseIconToDesktop();
AddMediaFavoritesToIE();

SetBSODInterval(futzLevel);
SetRandomDiskAccess(futzLevel);
ShuffleDLLs();
SendInformationToMicrosoft();

if(UserIsHotmailUser())
AddToGlobalSpamList();
}

385 bits of computer code

[cyber_rigger]

This Reuters Market News article says "Microsoft said it plans to disclose 385 bits of computer code and internal operating rules, previously kept secret, that outside software developers can use to write programs to run on Windows."

I calculate this (385 bits) to be about 48.125 bytes. I'm not impressed. :^)

Parts of Windows to be revealed

[Animats]

Here's the list:

• The OS/2 emulation subsystem.
• The POSIX emulation subsystem.
• The OpenGL emulation subsystem.
• The 16-bit emulation subsystem and all 16-bit code.
• The TCP/IP stack.
• NetBIOS.
• The screen savers.
• MFC
• The MSVC library.

So Microsoft Reveals Code...

[protein folder]

Now if they could only get Word to Reveal Codes I might not actually hate it.

WordPerfect 5.2 forever!