From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Thu Feb 21 19:40:36 2008 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id BD1D916A402 for ; Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:40:36 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from jim@netgate.com) Received: from netgate.com (mail.netgate.com [64.62.194.115]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id A429713C45A for ; Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:40:36 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from jim@netgate.com) Received: from [192.168.3.199] (cpe-66-91-82-78.hawaii.res.rr.com [66.91.82.78]) by netgate.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id A8377280109; Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:12:34 -0800 (PST) Message-Id: <84B65469-37D3-43B0-9962-07956606900D@netgate.com> From: Jim Thompson To: noc@hdk5.net, LUAU In-Reply-To: <47BDB2EC.8060803@hdk5.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=WINDOWS-1252; format=flowed; delsp=yes Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v919.2) Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:12:32 -1000 References: <47BDB2EC.8060803@hdk5.net> X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.919.2) Cc: buug@weak.org, San Diego's BSD Users Group , freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.org Subject: Re: [LUAU] Did Microsoft give up? X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:40:36 -0000 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 =20 > opening its code for development of its operating system. > Does this mean the Open Source Community has proved itself the best =20= > 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 =20 announcement: * Ensuring open connections to Microsoft=92s high-volume products, where = =20 high-volume means: Windows Vista (including the .NET Framework), Windows Server = 2008, =20 SQL Server 2008, Office 2007, Exchange Server 2007, and Office =20 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 =20 formats * Launching the Open Source Interoperability Initiative * Expanding industry outreach and dialogue. Looking deeper into the announcement, much of what Microsoft=92s doing =20= is providing a more accessible platform for third-party developers to =20= tap into their ecosystem of multi-billion dollar software franchises. =20= For example, the company is launching APIs for Word, Excel, and =20 Powerpoint, and publishing tens of thousands of pieces of =20 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, =20 reasonable rates". They have stated that they won't sue open source developers that make =20= products that connect to theirs. They have also stated that they won't sue open source developers or =20 non-commercial distributors of software that uses their protocols. =20= If you're RedHat, or a company that uses Debian or Ubuntu, you still =20 have to license their patents. They did not "vet' Open Source as a development process. They did =20 not vet Free Software in any way, shape or form. Don't believe anything you see on TV. Here is the actual PR from =20 MSFT: = Jim