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Microsoft Makes Second GPLv2 Release

Posted by Soulskill on from the baby-steps dept.

angry tapir writes "Microsoft has made its second release under the General Public License in two days with software for Moodle, an 'open-source course management system that teachers use to create online learning Web sites for their classes[, which] has about 30 million users in 207 countries.' It comes on the heels of Redmond contributing drivers to the Linux community. No reports as yet on dropping temperatures in hell."

7 of 218 comments (clear)

  1. Inspect thoroughly by Andrew+Cooper · · Score: 5, Funny

    Someone should really check out the source, just to be sure it doesn't contain hidden subliminal "You Love Microsoft" messages. A good way to brainwash people is to interfere with their education...

  2. So that's their plan.... by Jedi+Alec · · Score: 5, Funny

    1) Release code under GPL
    2) Pigs fly and spread pig flue
    3) ?????
    4) Plague!
    5) Robo-ballmer rules the world

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    1. Re:So that's their plan.... by catxk · · Score: 5, Funny

      Haha, get real.

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    2. Re:So that's their plan.... by AdmiralXyz · · Score: 4, Funny

      I don't like your sig. Please change it.

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    3. Re:So that's their plan.... by nacturation · · Score: 2, Funny

      There's no profit in working for free and giving away your work (The 0th Rule of Acquisition). Perhaps Microsoft's big plan is to make up the loss by offering support contracts?

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  3. Re:uh, the driver release is an ANTI-Linux move by jipn4 · · Score: 2, Funny

    of course, the host operating system has to stay current, and with Micro$oft already pressuring vendors to stop making XP drivers, its the host operating system that becomes important.

    Important for what exactly?

    Imagine a world in which Windows becomes little more than a BIOS for Linux. Do you really think Microsoft will be able to charge a lot of money for that?

    Microsoft has been able to monopolize the market because they controlled everything. But their fortress is crumbling. The fact that they are releasing GPL drivers for Linux, even for this limited purpose, shows this, and it shows that they know it.

    IBM also used to be an evil monopoly, but they have grown up. There's no reason Microsoft can't do that as well. And as more and more of the Microsoft blowhards retire from the company on their monopoly-derived billions, Microsoft will become increasingly realistic and cooperative, because the next generation at Microsoft has to realize that it's either cooperation or bankruptcy for Microsoft.

  4. Microsoft altruistic? No... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    There have been times in my life when I would not have thought that someone who calls himself "fuzzy fuzzy fungus" could educate me.

    But you did it this time.