Microsoft Tries its Hand at Open-Source Philanthropy
Microsoft Tries its Hand at Open-Source Philanthropy
Posted 09/11/2009 at 5:04pm
| by Ryan Whitwam
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The nonprofit CodePlex Foundation is being set up with backing from Microsoft. The Redmond based software company has contributed $1 million, and provided numerous Microsoft employees to run the nonprofit’s board. Microsoft’s former senior director of platform strategy, Sam Ramji, will serve as the temporary head of CodePlex.
Before you go thinking this is totally out of the ordinary for Bill Gate’s baby, the CodePlex website clears a few things up. CodePlex says that commercial companies are under-represented in the open-source world. While this may seem like a natural situation, the new Microsoft backed venture intends to change that. The “about” page on the foundation’s site says that companies will be encouraged to contribute code, not patents.
With code still bound by patents, it is unlikely that the larger open-source community will care to get involved. There may be a certain logic to the CodePlex Foundation, though. Allowing a company to contribute code, without giving up their patents may bring new ideas to open-source in the long run. Even with these favorable conditions, will businesses cooperate with an open-source foundation?
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periodhyphenund...
September 11, 2009 at 8:55pm
Stir that HoneyPot Real Good!
There's a new crop of Lawyers to feed!
Prediction: Codeplex see's more than 60% of it's profits coming from litigation settlements and Lawsuits within 3 years!
BaggerX
September 14, 2009 at 7:41am
Don't non-profits that make a "profit" just raise the salaries of the executives anyway? Then there's no "profit" to worry about, it's just normal salary expense.
periodhyphenund...
September 12, 2009 at 6:21pm
I just don't see the reason for Patents on Code that is "Open Source" AND "Non-Profit" unless it's used as an Evil Plot to destroy Open Source in some way.
History has already shown us that Microsoft is the AntiChrist and will try to enslave us all
I have never seen "Charity" in any of their evil plots!
Tax-Free Non-Profit foundations and Charities by these people are normally used to hide weath, evade Taxes and generally have incredibly little to do with Charity
nekollx
September 12, 2009 at 10:20am
i hate to break this to you bur Bill Gates is not the source of all evil, he does, you know, care about people. He even has his own charity.
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/Pages/overview.aspx
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BaggerX
September 14, 2009 at 7:43am
He's not really an evil person. He's just a businessman who engaged in illegal and immoral tactics to build and expand his company, destroying many other companies along the way. Doesn't mean he can't also do some good in the world.
nekollx
September 14, 2009 at 8:38am
never said he was a saint but i'm sick of people saying he has a spaded tail and horns.
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Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
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