Microsoft Releases Linux Device Drivers As GPL

mjasay writes "Microsoft used to call the GPL 'anti-American.' Now, as Microsoft releases Hyper-V Linux Integration Components (LinuxIC) under the GPL (version 2), apparently Microsoft calls the GPL 'ally.' Of course, there was little chance the device drivers would be accepted into the Linux kernel base unless open source, but the news suggests a shift for Microsoft. It also reflects Microsoft's continued interest in undermining its virtualization competition through low prices, and may suggests concern that it must open up if it wants to fend off insurgent virtualization strategies from Red Hat (KVM), Novell (XEN), and others in the open-source camp. Microsoft said the move demonstrates its interest in using open source in three key areas: 1) Make its software development processes more efficient, 2) product evangelism, and 3) using open source to reduce marketing and sales costs or to try out new features that highlight parts of the platform customers haven't seen before."

Comments

Hell called

[Anarke_Incarnate]

Send sweaters

Re:Hell called

[Hurricane78]

A) Ok. I believe that. Because Microsoft is such a trustworthy and all around nice company.

B) "Whenever a controversial law is proposed, and its supporters, when confronted with an egregious abuse it would permit, use a phrase along the lines of 'Perhaps in theory, but the law would never be applied in that way' - they're lying. They intend to use the law that way as early and as often as possible."
-- meringuoid (568297) @ 2005-11-24 16:40 (#14107454)

C) Microsoft employees? On my Slashdot?? ;)

Re:What hidden dangers?

[mrvan]

Ahhh right. And IBM c.s. is run by a bunch of code-hugging hippies and they function as a charity to release code for the improvement of the world.

How *could* I have missed that?

stand by for heavy rolls

[mr_death]

Perhaps Microsoft's lawyers found a weakness in the GPL, or they want to litigate the FSF into the ground.

"Beware of G[r]eeks bearing gifts".

Greeting Fellow Multiversers

[mindbrane]

I honestly don't know how I got here. I just woke up and here I am in your universe, AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE TO MY OWN HOME UNIVERSE. IT'S TRUE! You can't imagine how glad I am to be here. I'm definitely not going back. Things are bad where I come from.

Re:Greeting Fellow Multiversers

[Darkness404]

Am I the only one wondering what a Ubuntu repository was doing with this article?

Re:People in the U.S. culture can be very misleadi

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm guessing you are a man from America who believes what Fox News tells him. Having an Indian name doesn't make somebody an idiot; public promises from Microsoft are legally binding; lawyers, not managers, say what the use of GPLv2 *means*.

The plan:

[Hurricane78]

1. Collect the most patent/copyright protected parts that you can get your hands on.
2. Weave them into device driver code in a way that makes it impossible to notice the source of the code, unless you are the one who might sue (=yourself).
3. Release them as GPL and let it grow into Linux.
4. ...
5. Sue Linux to death! (=Profit)
</humor>

Re:The Thing M$ Likes about the GPL

[Anonymous Coward]

The GPL is about maintaining control. (Imagine Yoda reading that sentence.)

Maintaining control the GPL is about