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Microsoft Excludes GPLv3 From Linspire Deal

rs232 writes to tell us that Microsoft is excluding any software licensed under the new GPLv3 from their recent patent protection deal with Linspire. "Microsoft has since been treating GPLv3 software as though it were radioactive. 'Microsoft isn't a party to the GPLv3 license and none of its actions are to be misinterpreted as accepting status as a contracting party of GPLv3 or assuming any legal obligations under such license,' the company said in a statement released shortly after GPLv3 was published on June 29. In addition to excluding GPLv3 software from the Linspire deal, Microsoft recently said that it wouldn't distribute any GPLv3 software under its SUSE Linux alliance with Novell, even as it maintains in public statements that the antilawsuit provisions in the license have no legal weight. "

2 of 342 comments (clear)

  1. An other example of GPL3 suckyness by jellomizer · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    It took over a decade for a lot of major corporation to adjust to Open Source and the GPL as a business model. A lot of this time was finding the right loop-holes in it that would make it work with their business model... With these loopholes both sides won. These company contributed to the Open Source Community as some level and the Company made money. Now a few people who to the most part are anti-capitalistic. decided to change the rules because they see that the a few companies found a hole in the GPL that allowed them to do things not in the Spirit of the original GPL. So they go and change it make it more rigid for corporations and incompatible with their business model. So yes they will block GPL 3 Code and Contribute less to Open Source and Hire Developers to make in house software. (Both Sides loose) Now it may take an other decade for Business to find how to make GPL3 work for them, but in the meantime it is back to priority software. By going to far in one direction you loose more people who are in the middle. The Utopian vision of totally free information and code will never happen, The best you can do is maximize it. GPL 3 in my opinion is trying to force the Utopian vision thus minimizing the use of open coding. I know we all hate Microsoft and all. But can you blame them, they are just starting to kinda sorta maybe just a little bit become open source friendly then the rules change.

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  2. Re:So what? by mrchaotica · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    the GPL 3's attempt to control hardware design and usage.

    QUIT SPREADING THE FUCKING FUD ALREADY!

    Name one "hardware design" that the GPLv3 "attempt[s] to control", and I'll concede your point. Otherwise, quit lying!

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