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.

Comments

Re:I hereby declare...

[vigmeister]

...that tax laws don't apply to me. Oh, and those pesky laws about parking and speeding, too Well, you just described Libertarians...

libertarianv("An unregulated free market parking system will allow handicapped people to park near the entrance without letting fat f*cks abuse the system");

Cheers!

Imperial Signing Statements

[Doc Ruby]

It's a signing statement. Since Bush has been breaking the law without legal authority using them, and Bush's admin was hustled into power by Jack Abramoff's network, who was initiated into lobbying at Preston Gates (yes, that Gates, though it's the huge corporate lawyer father of Microsoft's "Bill"), why shouldn't the richest, most powerful man in the world start signing his own imperial decrees? It's all the rage among his aristocratic class. There's safety in numbers - of emperors and of dollars.

Re:Buhuhuhuhu.

[stonecypher]

I know what the word bait means. Citing my opinions isn't bait. I'm sorry you've confused your grudges and your stereotypes for people spoiling for a fight, but it turns out that people can disagree with you on a specific basis without being in the mood for a tussle.

Indeed, five years ago when I posted messages like that, I used to get really good discussions. Unfortunately, as the size of a userbase grows, the signal to noise ratio drops, and eventually you get ACs making nasty comments that don't make sense (such as yourself.)

I stay here because I still like the signal, but I sure understand why so many old hands have left. You're part of that.