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Bill Gates On the GPL — "We Disagree"

Posted by timothy on from the doesn't-that-mean-disagreeing-with-copyright dept.

Dionysius, God of Wine, writes with a link to an Ars Technica story, quoting Bill Gates: "'There's free software and then there's open source' he suggested, noting that Microsoft gives away its software in developing countries. With open source software, on the other hand, 'there is this thing called the GPL, which we disagree with.' Open source, he said, creates a license 'so that nobody can ever improve the software,' he claimed, bemoaning the squandered opportunity for jobs and business. (Yes, Linux fans, we're aware of how distorted this definition is.) He went back to the analogy of pharmaceuticals: 'I think if you invent drugs, you should be able to charge for them,' he said, adding with a shrug: 'That may seem radical."

3 of 778 comments (clear)

  1. Re:And this is... by ZephyrXero · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, with all Bill Gates philanthropy stuff he does today...sometimes we need to be reminded he's still evil ;)

    --
    "A truly wise man realizes he knows nothing."
  2. Re:Weird disjoint by cyphercell · · Score: 5, Funny

    Tesco disagrees with home gardening, they think people should be able to charge for their vegetables.

    --
    Under the influence of Post-Cyberpunk Gonzo Journalism
  3. Re:Not radical to charge, just greedy. by CowboyNealOption · · Score: 5, Funny
    Open source, he said, creates a license 'so that nobody can ever improve the software'

    I think Bill must live in opposite land, because the meaning he is associating with the word "nobody" is the one I associate with the word "everybody".