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Microsoft Was Distributing Ubuntu Linux

Posted by Zonk on from the but-not-so-much-anymore dept.

ausage writes "Groklaw has noted that for the last few days, Microsoft has been distributing Unbuntu Desktop Linux from the Windows Marketplace Website. The page is gone now, but can still — as of this morning — be seen using Google cache. 'Heaven only knows that's true, simply perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. The part Microsoft got wrong is it says the license is "Free" and "No limitations". Actually, the GPL does set some limitations, like what you are responsible to do if you redistribute.'"

6 of 281 comments (clear)

  1. Distributing? by AKAImBatman · · Score: 4, Insightful

    There's a difference between "distributing" and "referencing". According to TFA, Microsoft was doing the latter by sending users to CNET for the product.

    This is amusing, but it will not have any of the legal implications that many would expect from Microsoft distributing Linux.

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  2. Re:Am I wrong? by pembo13 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Who said they were violating the GPL?

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    "Thanks for all the money you paid to us. We've used it to buy off ISO among other things" -Microsoft
  3. Re:confusing by kebes · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Ah... apparently the download link was redirecting to CNET. So I guess Microsoft can claim, as they do with the Novel coupons, that they are not the ones actually distributing the binaries hence not bound by the GPL.

  4. Re:confusing by Smidge204 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Too bad that argument doesn't work for torrent trackers. Yay double standard!

    =Smidge=

  5. Re:confusing by Random832 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    WTF, no-one's saying they'd have to turn over the windows source code - but, regardless of if they modified it or not, if they didn't distribute the Ubuntu source code WITH the Ubuntu binary download, they have to make the Ubuntu source code available for three years.

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  6. Re:confusing by mhall119 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    They did not distribute it, their site merely promoted it. Therefore they are not bound by the GPL distribution requirements, they didn't even have to accept the GPL as a license.

    Now, if your BitTorrent tracker points to a source of illegal music distribution, you can still be held liable for copyright infringement because you are promoting violation of copyright. Microsoft was in no way promoting violation of the GPL.

    So basically this doesn't hurt Microsoft (other than we all get a good laugh at their expense), and it doesn't help illegal file sharing. And since Microsoft was diligent about removing the page after it was brought to their attention, they can't even be accused of actively promoting the use of Ubuntu, so it wouldn't even be patent entrapment.

    So the long and short of it is this: It was funny, but doesn't change anything.

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