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Microsoft Blesses LGPL, Joins Apache Foundation

Penguinisto writes "According to a somewhat jaw-dropping story in The Register, it appears that Microsoft has performed a trifecta of geek-scaring feats: They have joined the Apache Software Foundation as a Platinum member(at $100K USD a year), submitted LGPL-licensed patches for ADOdb, and have pledged to expand their Open Specifications Promise by adding to the list more than 100 protocols for interoperability between its Windows Server and the Windows client. While I sincerely doubt they'll release Vista under a GPL license anytime soon, this is certainly an unexpected series of moves on their part, and could possibly lead to more OSS (as opposed to 'Shared Source') interactivity between what is arguably Linux' greatest adversary and the Open Source community." (We mentioned the announced support for the Apache Foundation earlier today, as well.)

22 of 425 comments (clear)

  1. The Devil must be pissed off by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    He doesn't like cold.

    1. Re:The Devil must be pissed off by mooreti1 · · Score: 5, Funny

      I imagine even God is looking at the Devil and saying, "Dude, don't look at me. Even I didn't see that coming."

      --
      Oh, for the days when sig's didn't have to be cute...hey, wait a sec.
  2. Linus is right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I am with Linus on this one

  3. Re:The Mayans were wrong by Faylone · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hey, Duke Nukem Forever still isn't out. It's not the end of the world YET.

  4. Unrelated News by ndnspongebob · · Score: 5, Funny

    In unrelated news, evolution picks up pace as pigs gain wings.

  5. Insanity! by ActionDesignStudios · · Score: 5, Funny

    I love seeing things get open sourced just as much as the next guy, but who in their right mind would WANT the source code for Vista?

  6. Re:Yeah, right by introspekt.i · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wasn't the Java situation more like embrace, extend, lawsuit, retreat?

  7. Re:The Mayans were wrong by Gewalt · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Mayans never claimed the world would end. They only claimed their funky calendar would run out of days.

    --
    Modding Trolls +1 inciteful since 1999
  8. Obligatory Simpsons Quote by Yvan256 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Mr. Burns: Smithers I'm thinking about donating some money to the orphanage... when pigs fly!
    (Smithers and Burns both laughing)
    (Homer's BBQ pig flies past the window)
    Smithers: Will you be making that donation now, sir?
    Mr. Burns: Eh, I'd rather not.

  9. Re:Keep off the cynicism... by ya+really · · Score: 4, Funny

    old-timers like me (i.e. more than 25-30 years old) will not trust them until they have really proven themselves.

    Since when is 25 old? I just turned 25 and have yet to tell kids to "Get off my lawn", "Turn down that music" or say "Back in my day..."

  10. Re:Keep off the cynicism... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ah, you young whippersnappers, back in my day 25 was plenty old! We sang the hacker song, enjoyed the writings of ESR and we all coded in vi...uphill...both ways. Now turn down that music and get off my lawn!

  11. In Soviet America... by erko · · Score: 4, Funny

    microsoft uses GNU?

  12. Re:Last I checked, MS still claims Linux 'IP' by 6Yankee · · Score: 4, Funny

    nothing stinks about this particular movement, albeit deep in the bowels of the company

    Are you saying Microsoft's shit don't stink?

  13. the time of prophecy is at hand! by spazdor · · Score: 4, Funny

    Meh. That means nothin'. You don't know of any charismatic, quasi-Messianic personalities rising to power at the moment, do you?

    --
    DRM: Terminator crops for your mind!
    1. Re:the time of prophecy is at hand! by drinkypoo · · Score: 3, Funny

      Meh. That means nothin'. You don't know of any charismatic, quasi-Messianic personalities rising to power at the moment, do you?

      No, only an uncharismatic one. He does think God works through him, though.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  14. Re:The Mayans were wrong by ksd1337 · · Score: 5, Funny

    A wise man once passed away and went to Heaven. He asked God when Duke Nukem Forever would be released. God replied, "Not in my lifetime."

  15. Re:The Mayans were wrong by funaho · · Score: 5, Funny

    yes, but they had no era defined for what happened next

    Ah, so the world will end not with a bang, but with a segfault.

  16. Re:The Mayans were wrong by drinkypoo · · Score: 5, Funny

    13.0.0.0.0 is supposed to be the end of the present creation, rather than just a change of the same significance as the rollover to 12.0.0.0.0 from 11.19.19.17.19.

    Maybe 13.0.0.0.0 is the era of the linux desktop.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  17. Re:Bill Gates? by kiddygrinder · · Score: 3, Funny

    So what, now that balmer is free of gates' meddling he can finally express his love of oss ? :)

    --
    This is a joke. I am joking. Joke joke joke.
  18. Rings a bell by nEoN+nOoDlE · · Score: 4, Funny

    Dear Open Source Community,
    We were wrong and we're sorry. As a token of our apology, here's a nice big wooden horse.

    Sincerely,
    Microsoft

    --
    Don't trust a bull's horn, a doberman's tooth, a runaway horse or me.
  19. Re:Late.. by Insanity+Defense · · Score: 5, Funny

    The release of this April Fools gag was handled by the Vista team.

  20. Re:Is this stage 4? by temcat · · Score: 3, Funny

    Exactly. That lousy strategy wouldn't work with somebody like me, who maims and kills unarmed resistor and capacitors on a daily basis and likes it!