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Microsoft Opens Source to China

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the not-part-of-the-axis-of-evil dept.

angst7 writes "ZDNet is reporting that Microsoft has signed an agreement which would allow the Chinese government access to Windows source code. This is part of an effort to curb the shift toward Linux in China due to that country's concerns regarding the security of closed source software." Reader NZheretic points out that less than a year ago, Jim Allchin swore under oath that disclosing the Windows operating system source code could damage national security.

21 of 480 comments (clear)

  1. So Microsoft is by nick-less · · Score: 5, Funny

    just using its own form of open source - you just need to yell "Hey were going to use Linux!" and you get the source ;-)

  2. So now the Chinese have it!!! by inburito · · Score: 4, Funny

    And this hurts the US National Security?!? WTF!?!

    1. Re:So now the Chinese have it!!! by zoward · · Score: 4, Funny

      It sure can. How many times have you seen the phrase "Hacked by Chinese" scrawled across a US website? I saw my company's website thus defaced. US relations with China have not been all that cordial of late...

      --
      "Can't you see that everyone is buying station wagons?"
    2. Re:So now the Chinese have it!!! by mmol_6453 · · Score: 4, Funny

      One wonders if it's treason.

      If it is, who gets the axe?

      --
      What's this Submit thingy do?
    3. Re:So now the Chinese have it!!! by Aumaden · · Score: 5, Funny
      If our national security depends on Windows, the battle is already lost.

      --Aumaden

    4. Re:So now the Chinese have it!!! by Old+Uncle+Bill · · Score: 3, Funny

      Dunno, apparently they will be showing the Chinese the code branch without the NSA backdoors?

      --
      Yes, I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.
  3. Damage national security, eh? by maverickbna · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, it looks like terrorists are gonna be the first to see the source... :/

    --
    You are great player! Present you with points!
    1. Re:Damage national security, eh? by matt4077 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Nope, terrorists wrote it in the first place.

      --
      Fleur de Sel
  4. Treason? by mmol_6453 · · Score: 5, Funny

    What's the corporate punishment for treason?

    --
    What's this Submit thingy do?
    1. Re:Treason? by G27+Radio · · Score: 5, Funny

      What's the corporate punishment for treason?

      It's probably a huge fine amounting to about .01% of Microsoft's daily income.

    2. Re:Treason? by timeOday · · Score: 5, Funny

      Corporations can be punished? The whole point of forming one is so you can't be touched.

  5. Worst job ever. by hafree · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sorting through gigabytes of Microsoft legacy code that was written under the pretense that nobody would ever see it. Now there's a scary thought. I'd hate to be the guy with THAT job...

    1. Re:Worst job ever. by msouth · · Score: 4, Funny

      Well, that's probably why China wants it.

      "Look, you bring up Tianamen Square ONE MORE TIME and you'll be reading the code for kernel32.dll the rest of your life!"

      --
      Liberty uber alles.
  6. ha! by DarkHelmet · · Score: 5, Funny
    Jim Allchin swore under oath that disclosing the Windows operating system source code could damage national security.

    This must be a covert attempt from Microsoft to destroy China by weakening its national security!

    --
    /^[A-Z0-9._%+-]+@[A-Z0-9.-]+\.[A-Z]{2,4}$/i
  7. Great! by warpSpeed · · Score: 5, Funny
    How long until we can get a CD of the source on a street corner in Hong Kong?

  8. An oh-so-typical I-hate-M$ post by bobKali · · Score: 5, Funny

    So the US government needs to either arrest Jim Allchin for perjury or Bill Gates for treason.

  9. Re:Which crime is being committed? by bobKali · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think what he MEANT to say was that compiling the Windows operating system source code could damage national security.

  10. Future News by iamdrscience · · Score: 5, Funny

    "All warez copies of Windows actually fake versions distributed by the Chinese"

    "Microsoft Source Code leaked world-wide"

    "Microsoft discontinues entire software division and focuses full force on their Mouse and Keyboard division"

  11. Think Price by Mabidex · · Score: 3, Funny


    1- China Gets Source
    2- China uses Message Queing to break or break into asian corps, and small countries which have little security
    3- China now has massive espionage in 2nd/3rd world countries, and united states corporate subsidiaries in those countries
    4- China invests heavily in US stock market
    5- Profit!

    At least that is what an Evil empire would do...

  12. Re:Yes, but.... by binner1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Actually, you just click the build button with the little white arrow. Typing is archaic.

    -Ben

  13. ah, but you see by g4dget · · Score: 4, Funny
    Disclosing the source code to the US government hurts national security, disclosing the source code to the Chinese government improves it.

    You see, being exposed to Windows source code gives programmers a killer headache, and after having seen it, they'll never be able to write a secure piece of code themselves.