Microsoft Is Stealing Open Source Code

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If you knew anything.
You would know they have been doing that since day one.
And very well I might add. ;)
 
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Barnaby W. Füi

Elite Member
Aug 14, 2001
12,343
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<< If it is freely available code how is it stealing? >>


well if the code was under GPL then MS would have to release the source code of programs that included the GPL code, however zlib is not under GPL, and MS is not required to release any code.

similar to many OS's use of BSD TCP/IP.
 
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XeonTux

Golden Member
Dec 4, 2000
1,475
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From the article:

Microsoft has never denied that it would use open-source software, just that its programmers are prohibited from using code based on the GNU General Public License, which could force the company to publish its own source code.

"The issue at hand is choice; companies and individuals should be able to choose either model, and we support this right," Craig Mundie, senior vice president of Microsoft, said last May. "(There) is a real problem in the licensing model that many open-source software products employ: the General Public License."


I love that quote from MS... yeah, a real problem. The only thing keeping them from ripping more code to sell closed-source
 
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yakko

Lifer
Apr 18, 2000
25,455
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<<

<< If it is freely available code how is it stealing? >>


well if the code was under GPL then MS would have to release the source code of programs that included the GPL code, however zlib is not under GPL, and MS is not required to release any code.

similar to many OS's use of BSD TCP/IP. >>

You point out why it is not stealing but qoute my question asking why it is.
 
D

dionx

Diamond Member
Mar 11, 2001
3,500
1
81


<< hehehe
someone watching too much uh...
anti-trust
hahaha >>



i actually liked that movie. bought it at frys for $7 before i even saw the movie. at least it had rachel leigh cook to justify the $7.
 
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Barnaby W. Füi

Elite Member
Aug 14, 2001
12,343
0
0


<<

<<

<< If it is freely available code how is it stealing? >>


well if the code was under GPL then MS would have to release the source code of programs that included the GPL code, however zlib is not under GPL, and MS is not required to release any code.

similar to many OS's use of BSD TCP/IP. >>

You point out why it is not stealing but qoute my question asking why it is. >>


whoops, somehow i confused your question with....uh...something...crap i'm tired :eek:
 
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Nefrodite

Banned
Feb 15, 2001
7,931
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i actually liked that movie. bought it at frys for $7 before i even saw the movie. at least it had rachel leigh cook to justify the $7.

ugh, that movies not worth 7 bux, no not even for rachel..sweet sweet rachel:p by their logic you should steal their movie since it should be free anyways.. screw em. software should be free.. we'll charge for techsupport. oh yea!! obviously made b4 the dotcoms died.
 
Spike

Spike

Diamond Member
Aug 27, 2001
6,770
1
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anit-trust a movie!?!?! hmmm, bill gates could star in "anti-trust 2" ha ha ha. Oh man I must be tired as I found that really funny. ok.... bed time for me

-spike
 
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yellowplastic

Banned
Mar 1, 2002
146
0
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You cannot in good conscience slander open source software in a public forum, and then turn around and use open source software to generate profits without contributing any money, manpower or good will towards the open source community.

This is literally a case of biting the hand that feeds you.
 
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Barnaby W. Füi

Elite Member
Aug 14, 2001
12,343
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<< You cannot in good conscience >>


come on, this is MS ;)


<< This is literally a case of biting the hand that feeds you. >>


yep, but unfortunately the community cant really do anything to get back at MS...except point, laugh, and ridicule perhaps :p
 
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yellowplastic

Banned
Mar 1, 2002
146
0
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<< yep, but unfortunately the community cant really do anything to get back at MS...except point, laugh, and ridicule perhaps :p >>



On the contrary.

By exposing Microsoft's immoral, antisocial, and destructive behavior (such as I have done in this thread) the community can draw closer scrutiny to Microsoft as a misbehaving corporate citizen, and can compel businesses to seek alternative solutions.

After all, a company that does not think twice about screwing over its suppliers (the open source software community) will not think twice about screwing over its customers, either, and it makes no sense to deal with a business that operates in this manner.
 
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Rendus

Golden Member
Jul 27, 2000
1,312
1
71
Er. Um.

They're using software that has a license SPECIFICALLY ALLOWING what they're doing. Sheesh.
 
Amused

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,548
20,265
146


<<

<< yep, but unfortunately the community cant really do anything to get back at MS...except point, laugh, and ridicule perhaps :p >>



On the contrary.

By exposing Microsoft's immoral, antisocial, and destructive behavior (such as I have done in this thread) the community can draw closer scrutiny to Microsoft as a misbehaving corporate citizen, and can compel businesses to seek alternative solutions.

After all, a company that does not think twice about screwing over its suppliers (the open source software community) will not think twice about screwing over its customers, either, and it makes no sense to deal with a business that operates in this manner. >>



You just don't like MS because Bill Gates is white. :p
 
C

charrison

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
17,033
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yellowplastic,

There are problems with the GPL. BSD is much nicer to people/companies wanting to use publically available source.
 
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yellowplastic

Banned
Mar 1, 2002
146
0
0


<< yellowplastic,

There are problems with the GPL. BSD is much nicer to people/companies wanting to use publically available source. >>



BSD is easier to steal without giving anything back to the community.

That is not how capitalism works. Capitalism works by trading something of value in exchange for something else of value. Microsoft is undermining capitalism by stealing tons of BSD code without contributing anything of value (money, manpower or even recognition) back to the community.
 
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hans007

Lifer
Feb 1, 2000
20,212
18
81
microsoft is a business. if they can reuse code to make more money so be it. they are a smart business. being smart got them where they were, and i dont think they are about to roll over and die and start acting dumb.
 
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Hyperblaze

Lifer
May 31, 2001
10,027
1
81


<< microsoft is a business. if they can reuse code to make more money so be it. they are a smart business. being smart got them where they were, and i dont think they are about to roll over and die and start acting dumb. >>



I wouldn't call them a smart business, i'd call them a dirty business. Okay..so I admit other business people have also acted dirty...but Microsoft really takes the cake!

But who in their right mind would use Microsoft products anyways? Open source software is so much better. It's free, you have COMPLETE control over it, and much more stable!
 
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Nemesis77

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2001
7,329
0
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Did MS break any laws here? No. Did MS break the license of the software? No. It's licensed under the BSD-license, and it allows anyone to do anything they want with the code.

That said, I have a problem with the BSD-license for this particular reason. MS can take the hard work of others and use it in their products, without giving anything back to the community. With GPL, that is not possible. No, I'm not some GPL-zealot trying to force everybody to use it. But there are times when GPL is more suitable.

The reason why MS said that they like the BSD-license and hate the GPL is precisely because of this. MS can do whatever they please with BSD-licensed code, but they can't do that with GPL-licensed code. They can "steal" BSD-code, but not GPL-code. And that's why they whine. They have gone as far as calling GPL-license "un-american", "communist" and "cancer".
 
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