Why is Microsoft attacking the GPL?

[Roderick A Gammon]

One comparison that is visible but not drawn in the article is the
similarity between anti-Amhdal IBM's revenue model and Microsoft's projected
ASP revenue model (and local home sales, to resurrect a thread).

Consider this economic nugget in the article:

"IBM's mid-century executives, like those of other manufacturing firms, knew
perfectly well that maximum profits follow from a "leasing-only, no-sales"
policy; as economists have since theoretically demonstrated, such a policy
maximizes revenues because it keeps secondary goods off the market."

Sounds a lot like where ASP (as service provision, not scriptlet) is headed-
leasing and not selling.  In addition to being a profit maximizer the model
offers a benefit that MS always uses as a banner- it should limit copy
infringement and reverse engineering because there aren't cd's going around
for replication.

But the really scary thing is the GPL in general.  TMK it hasn't been tested
in court yet.  It would really be difficult if it went against MS without
any direct precedent.

-rg