quote:
"One thing about the GPL is that you can't just license IBM Linux, or Red Hat Linux," Gates said. "The way the GPL works, if you license any Linux, you have to license all Linux."
Dat darn ol' GPL: you just can't go in and steal whatever you want and lock it away forever. You have to share enhancements and improvements.
quote:
"Here you have a product without R&D controls, and it's not part of a cross-license," he said. "Given the high level of functionality, you'd think it would have patents.
"Companies that are doing R&D have by and large entered into cross-licensing agreements," he said. "Microsoft and IBM did cross-licensing 10 years ago, when we were small. But Linux is not covered by most of these cross-licenses."
And just what has "R & D Controls" done for the state of WinDoesn't? The Virii, the security holes (two more
serious ones just turned up) the BSODs, the Trojans, the spy/ad/nag/ware speaks for itself, doesn't it.
"Microsoft and IBM entered into cross-licensing 10 years ago, when we were small." And then His Gatesness promptly fucked IBM up the ass. (Which explains why you don't want to enter such agreements with Microsoft
) There's no need for Linux to enter any such agreements: MS has
nothing to offer either Linux specifically, or the Open Source community in general.
quote:
"There's no question that in cloning activities, IP from many, many companies, including Microsoft, is being used in open-source software," Gates said. "When people clone things, that often becomes unavoidable."
Betcha there's a
helluva lot more Open Source IP, including GPL'd IP, in Winderz than the other way around. Besides, WTF could Linux "steal" from Winderz anyway? The BSOD? The outstanding security? GUIs that look like they were designed for four-year-olds by four-year-olds? The phone home "daemons"? :rolleyes: :eek:
quote:
Microsoft said Thursday it plans to invest $6.8 billion in research and development in fiscal 2004.
To Microsoft, "research and development" means hiring marketing weenies, payoffs to foreign gov'ts, lies and FUD.
quote:
"The average person on the IT floor knows there are issues because of the SCO-IBM lawsuit, but in terms of understanding the details about risks, there's not a well-developed understanding I see among our customers," Ballmer said.
Mind like a steel trap, that Ballmer. Worth
every cent they pay him.
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Live Free or Die: Linux
"There: now you'll never have to look at those dirty Windows anymore"
--Daffy Duck