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Microsoft Launches Its Own Open Source Foundation

Posted by timothy on from the said-the-spider-to-the-fly dept.

darthcamaro writes "Microsoft already had its own open source (OSI-approved) licenses, its own open source project hosting site and now it's adding its own non-profit open source foundation. That's right, the company that is still banging the patent drum against open source now has its own 501(c)(6) open source foundation. Officially called the CodePlex Foundation, it's a separate effort from the CodePlex site and is aimed at helping to get more commercial developers involved in open source. Considering how they continue to attack Linux and open source, will anyone take them seriously?"

4 of 344 comments (clear)

  1. Parental oversight by proslack · · Score: 4, Informative

    From the link "The CodePlex Foundation will complement existing open source foundations and organizations, providing a forum in which best practices and shared understanding can be established by a broad group of participants, both software companies and open source communities."

    Seems like a meta-organization for open source entities, under the watchful eye of Redmond.

    --


    Floating in the black seas of infinity without a paddle.
  2. Re:Coal.. Kettle? by Ed+Avis · · Score: 4, Informative

    They have attacked Linux (or more specifically, Linux distributors) using the FAT long filenames software patent. I would call that an 'attack'; those who are a bit more twitchy about such things also use the word 'attack' for FUD-laden marketing materials and other run-of-the-mill corporate tactics.

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    -- Ed Avis ed@membled.com
  3. Re:Coal.. Kettle? by SpaceLifeForm · · Score: 4, Informative
    Actually, MS sold the patents to AST, and then encouraged AST to auction them to a litigation troll (to attack Linux), but OIN stepped in and bought the 22 patents.

    Link

    Note that MS tried to keep the auction secret, but apparently someone within AST clued OIN in as to what was happening.

    Even though AST claims they are not into litigation, there be demons within.

    Codeplex will be no different.

    Did you hear the news? Buy a copy of Windows7, and get a discount on new designer sheep clothing.

    --
    You are being MICROattacked, from various angles, in a SOFT manner.
  4. Re:Coal.. Kettle? by harmonise · · Score: 4, Informative

    Wrong. Microsoft sued first and TomTom responded with a countersuit.

    See http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE52J1IE20090320

    --
    Cory Doctorow talking about cloud computing makes as much sense as George W Bush talking about electrical engineering.