New Windows Phone 7 Terms of Service Bans GPL Open Source Software (And Themselves in the Process!)
New Windows Phone 7 Terms of Service Bans GPL Open Source Software (And Themselves in the Process!)
Posted 02/20/2011 at 2:53pm
| by Justin Kerr
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Microsoft’s controversial decision to ban certain types of open source software had the company defending itself last week from both from the blogging community, and embarrassingly enough, their own internal legal department who was forced to admit they would have to kick themselves out to be in compliance with the new marketplace rules.
According to Simon Phipps from Computerworld, Microsoft’s own Reciprocal License, and its Public License both appear violate the new terms of service, and have forced the company to back pedal on the issue as quickly as they can without falling over. Microsoft officials have said they are “reconsidering the policy”, but had in-fact done this on purpose. It’s hard to imagine why they would have “done this on purpose”, but I seem to remember saying that once after falling down a flight of stairs. In my defense however I was somewhat delirious from cracking my head on each step as I rolled down, so I’m not sure what their excuse is going to be.
Its likely Microsoft’s legal team is working on a way to alter the terms of service to allow its own License’s, but still forbid GPL. It’s not the victory open source advocates were hoping for, but at least they get to watch Microsoft wipe egg off their logo.
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dedgar
February 21, 2011 at 9:11am
Maybe they should sue themselves. They've been such a fan of court cases in the past maybe they should take themselves to court. I think it would be interesting to see the outcome.
brettofamerica
February 21, 2011 at 2:17pm
I don't know what it is but I have a feeling that Microsoft is going to win this one...
phreek
February 20, 2011 at 10:44pm
Microsoft, Microsoft.. This is why the internet is making fun of you.
kamikaji
February 21, 2011 at 12:00am
Only Microsoft Game Studios and the branch responsible for the abomination that is WP7 are worth making fun of. The actual "core" Microsoft is on a good path with WINdows 7.
PCLinuxguy
February 20, 2011 at 8:44pm
You'd think the higher ups at Microsoft would've learned from Apple's mistake and find a more productive way of working with the GPL rather than locking things down this tightly. I mean that's what made running Windows on any computer possible versus Apple getting ticked if you're not on Apple hardware and running their OS. By mimicking Apple, all they're doing is shooting themselves in the foot and only worsening the anti-Microsoft sentiments from the tech community that aren't fanboys of a rival OS.
Neufeldt2002
February 20, 2011 at 6:36pm
Just another example of MS copying Apple. Getting kind of pathetic really.
riopato
February 20, 2011 at 4:46pm
what's the reason for this open source ban? what are these open source software good for and could it possibly much up certain code?
Maktaka
February 20, 2011 at 5:40pm
MS doesn't want to deal with conflicting license issues like Apple did with the VLC player. The iPhone app store licensing agreement is incompatible with open source licenses but doesn't directly state as much. The WP7 app store is also incompatible, and MS is heading it off at the pass by explicitly blocking open source apps. Whether or not making your app store incompatible with open source licensing is a good idea is another matter entirely.
Eoraptor
February 20, 2011 at 6:07pm
Pretty much what Maktaka said. Apple ran into the issue where it tried to do something that specifically violated the VLC open license (IE limit how many clients it could play to at a time like Quicktime and Itunes) Microsoft wants to do exactly the same with any apps in its store, so that you are forced to utilize its clients or deal with crippled "inferior" aps from the store. Whether that's in media player aps, or some other arena like Outlook vs Thunderbird, who can say.
tornato7
February 20, 2011 at 4:28pm
nice picture. Also I just noticed theres no more captcha! good job MAXPC!
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