[luau] Microsoft's New Linux Killing Plan

[Warren Togami]

I didn't realize the severe implications of this until now.  Microsoft
couldn't kill Linux with their usual undercutting or buying out, so they
have turned to licensing and patents to make it illegal to make
inoperable software under the GPL/LGPL free software licenses.  There
are indications that they will use patents to kill the Mono project when
it becomes a viable alternative to the .NET platform, and this CIFS
specification licensing makes it illegal to implement inoperable Windows
networking stuff under the GPL/LGPL licenses.

And as this article explains, this is part of Microsoft's "punishment"
of disclosing information to competitors. Under this licensing the ONLY
VIABLE COMPETITOR to Microsoft is specifically excluded.

http://news.com.com/2010-1075-882846.html
The Microsoft penalty that isn't

"In its antitrust settlement with the Justice Department and nine
states, Microsoft promised to publish technology that would allow
competing products to interoperate with Windows. But Microsoft has
sidestepped the penalty by crafting a technology license that excludes
the company's only viable competitor."

... (This following restriction is particularly nasty.) 

"A second Microsoft license on extensions used in Windows 2000 and
Windows XP will require royalty payments, excluding all software
produced by the open-source developer community. Because Microsoft has
patented features of the file-sharing protocol, open-source developers
who implement the protocol could be sued for infringement."
(continued in article)

Warren Togami
warren at togami.com