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Microsoft Redefines "Open Standards"

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the gpl-isn't-really-open-either-ya-know dept.

Glyn Moody writes "Microsoft is at it again: trying to redefine what 'open' means. This time it wants open standards to be 'balanced' — for them to include patent-encumbered technologies under RAND (reasonable and non-discriminatory) terms. Which just happens to be incompatible with free software licensed under the GNU GPL."

1 of 325 comments (clear)

  1. losing contracts by stine2469 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Does this have anything to do with losing the ability to get government contracts because of FOSS requirements? Remember the stink ?last year? when M$ got their proprietary document format declared a standard so they could bid on contracts that required open document standards? They must have another contract coming up for renewal.