Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:12:32 -1000 From: Jim Thompson <jim@netgate.com> To: noc@hdk5.net, LUAU <luau@lists.hosef.org> Cc: buug@weak.org, San Diego's BSD Users Group <sdbug@sdbug.org>, freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.org Subject: Re: [LUAU] Did Microsoft give up? Message-ID: <84B65469-37D3-43B0-9962-07956606900D@netgate.com> In-Reply-To: <47BDB2EC.8060803@hdk5.net> References: <47BDB2EC.8060803@hdk5.net>
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On Feb 21, 2008, at 7:20 AM, NetOpsCenter wrote: > Aloha, > > I just saw on TV news that Micro$oft has announced that it is > opening its code for development of its operating system. > Does this mean the Open Source Community has proved itself the best > way to go? No. Its more "get the EU off our backs" and "control the message". here are the key, tangible actions Microsoft details in their announcement: * Ensuring open connections to Microsoft’s high-volume products, where high-volume means: Windows Vista (including the .NET Framework), Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008, Office 2007, Exchange Server 2007, and Office SharePoint Server 2007, and future versions of all these products. Note that you'll need 'new software' to get the "open connections". * Documenting how Microsoft supports industry standards and extensions * Enhancing Office 2007 to provide greater flexibility of document formats * Launching the Open Source Interoperability Initiative * Expanding industry outreach and dialogue. Looking deeper into the announcement, much of what Microsoft’s doing is providing a more accessible platform for third-party developers to tap into their ecosystem of multi-billion dollar software franchises. For example, the company is launching APIs for Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, and publishing tens of thousands of pieces of documentation to its MSDN site. They're playing the same game with a new mask. They'll license their patented protocols to all comers "at low, reasonable rates". They have stated that they won't sue open source developers that make products that connect to theirs. They have also stated that they won't sue open source developers or non-commercial distributors of software that uses their protocols. If you're RedHat, or a company that uses Debian or Ubuntu, you still have to license their patents. They did not "vet' Open Source as a development process. They did not vet Free Software in any way, shape or form. Don't believe anything you see on TV. Here is the actual PR from MSFT: <http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/feb08/02-21ExpandInteroperabilityPR.mspx?rss_fdn=Press%20Releases > Jim
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