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Microsoft EU Decision Protects OSS Projects From Suits

Posted by Zonk on from the at-least-we-hope-it-does dept.

rfc1394 writes "An article in Australia's IT News mentions that under its antitrust agreement with the European Union, 'Microsoft will publish an irrevocable pledge not to assert any patents it may have over the interoperability information against non-commercial open source software development projects.' Essentially, in addition to getting them to comply with the anti-trust decision, the EU has forced Microsoft to back off of its saber-rattling when it comes to EU open source projects. That protection in no way extends to US projects, of course."

4 of 186 comments (clear)

  1. you gotta love eu bureaucrats by unity100 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    only eu bureaucrats could pull such 2 stunts in just one gig. when a bureaucracy works, it really shines.

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    Read radical news here
  2. proper attire is mandatory by User+956 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Microsoft EU Decision Protects OSS Projects From Suits

    Which is good, because the OSS crowd is more into t-shirts and jeans.

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    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
  3. Bill gets tired of EU, a conversation. by Facetious · · Score: 5, Funny

    Scene opens at Imperial Headquarters, Redmond. Imperial march plays and quiets as conversation begins.

    Bill: Man, I am getting so tired of the EU. I am going to have to buy Europe. Bring me my checkbook.

    Accountant: Sir, it's a little out of your price range.

    Bill: (Staring blankly) Price range?

    Accountant: Yes, sir. It costs more than you have, especially since most of your money is in dollar currency.

    Bill: (Picks up phone.) Steve, get in here. And bring your chair.

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    Let us not become the evil that we deplore.
  4. Re:in no way extends by mrbluze · · Score: 5, Funny

    This, of course, insures profitable OSS projects will not be based in the US. Damn shame. Some of us like Tech jobs.

    Nah, it just means that you guys in the US will have to keep living the American DRM.

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    Do it yourself, because no one else will do it yourself. [beta blockade 10-17 Feb]