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Did Microsoft Borrow GPL Code For a Windows 7 Utility?
Goatbert writes "Rafael Rivera over at WithinWindows.com has found evidence that Microsoft has potentially stolen code from an open source/GPL'd project (ImageMaster) for a utility made available on the Microsoft Store to allow download customers to copy the Windows 7 setup files to a DVD or USB Flash Drive. If Rivera's evidence holds up, this could be some serious egg in the face for Microsoft at a time when they're getting mostly good press from the tech media."
Except that a truly Microsoft-written ReadBytes method on the .NET Framework can be that simple, for example one int parameter http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.io.binaryreader.readbytes.aspx
So I wouldn't even jump to conclusions based on the signature of the method in question as to who it might have come from.
Except that a truly Microsoft-written ReadBytes method on the .NET Framework can be that simple, for example one int parameter http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.io.binaryreader.readbytes.aspx [microsoft.com]
There's a difference between a calling a method, where the object has internal state, and a C Win32 API function call, i.e., sans objects. I absolutely guarantee that you won't see many pretty signatures in the Win32 API. I'd bet that 99% of the Win32 API function SIGNATURES won't make it through a standards-compliant compiler without Windows.h. Anyway, my comment was supposed to be funny, but on second thought, it might actually deserve that informative mod.
Don't even get me started on the dual-version ANSI and Unicode functions, although given the mess that the Win32 API is, it's probably an elegant solution.
An old-timer with old-timey ideas.
Copyright infringement is not stealing. No mater who does it.
Ok, then... If MS used GPL code, then they did not "Borrow" it either
They used it in violation of copyright
No sig for the moment.
The ReadBytes code was just one example
If you read TFA (yeah, I know...) you'll see the author has updated that original example with others.
It looks like Microsoft's defence will be that the EULA says "“You may not reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble the software". They'll probably charge the guy with a DMCA violation...
"I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
Microsoft is evil. Always has been. Always will be.
Maybe you're very young, but I seem to recall that Microsoft was at one time held as a sort of liberator from IBM's hegemony. I guess it's all a matter of perspective...
Bill Gates' open letter to hobbyists. Any questions?
The magic numbers are from a file format specification. You're not going to change those magic numbers if you want the tool to work.
Actually, it does suggest class and type names. Start here Now, show me more than 15 lines and I'll start to believe it was copied. Say, show me what called RealLogicalDescriptor (and all of RealLogicalDescriptor too) in combination with all of UdfReader.cs. Preferably in text and not in an image. Actually, just give me the MS code and I'll line it up to the ImageMaster code myself.
Fly me to the moon Let me sing among those stars Let me see what spring is like On jupiter and mars
OP clearly did read TFA since he was criticizing the specifics provided. I'm not sure why you're taking a shot at that since the update was clearly made after the comment was posted.
Why does it look like that exactly? Are you getting this from anywhere or just pulling it out of your ass?