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Microsoft States GPL3 Doesn't Apply to Them
pilsner.urquell writes "Microsoft yesterday issued a statement proclaiming that it isn't bound by GPLv3. Groklaw has a very humorous rejoinder to the company's claim. From that article: 'They think they can so declare, like an emperor, and it becomes fiat. It's not so easy. I gather Microsoft's lawyers have begun to discern the GPL pickle they are in. In any case it won't be providing any support or updates or anything at all in connection with those toxic (to them) vouchers it distributed as part of the Novell deal ... These two -- I can't decide if it's an elaborate dance like a tango or more like those games where you place a cloth with numbers on the floor and you have to get into a pretzel with your hands and feet to touch all the right numbers. Whichever it is, Novell and Microsoft keep having to strike the oddest poses to try to get around the GPL. If they think this new announcement has succeeded, I believe they will find they are mistaken. In other words, not to put too fine a point on it, GPLv3 worked.'" EWeek has further analysis of this proclamation.
Hey, they work for Bush.
Don't like how the law works? Just say they don't apply to you, and carry on with considering them.
Microsoft used stock options to avoid taxes for years. The tradition continues under his sham charity.
Defrauding the government and pension plans is probably easier than conering a market, so I don't think they are going to get away with their assaults on the GPL. Sooner or later they will have to use GPL3 code if they want to stay relevant. They won't be able to do that through proxies forever if they can at all.
Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.
Not only is the Groklaw argument lame (do they really think the millions MS spent on lawyers would overlook this?) but the very discussion works in Microsofts favor.
This situation is putting the cap on the fear that when you try and do anything in a business developemnt context with GPl'd code it will bite you on the ass when some geeks get pissed off at you. I know at least three firms who were planning to develop services based on GPL'd code and get involved with the "FSF" communtiy who have backed away.
These days, far from saving you legal hassles dealign with the GPL and the FSF is proving to be among the fastest ways to be bogged down in full on legal hassles.
--> Fight tyranny and repression.... read
Yep, and that's the trap MS is trying to extricate itself from.
There are coupons for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server support/updates that have already been issued to customers by Microsoft, and others MS has still to issue. Once Novell includes GPL3 code in SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, those customers will receive the updates, and Microsoft will have distributed GPL3 code.
Microsoft is now reneging on the deal, and saying the customers who received the certificates will not be entitled to updates which include GPL3 code. This stipulation is obviously impossible to enforce.
Novell are saying they will support those customers anyway, thus allowing Microsoft to claim they are not distributing GPL3 code, even though those Microsoft customers are receiving GPL3 updates.
It's sly and tricky, and achieves next to nothing. Perfect MS fodder...
"I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."