Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] .NET on the Mac and BSD

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

I think we should be happy for what we are seeing from Microsoft.  They
are up to their necks in attorneys and a profit culture.  Yet they are
still handing out their code for free distribution so that it can be
modified and used in any non-profit way we please.  There must be a strong
push for open source within the corporation or this wouldn't have
happened.

I guess I can now see why Microsoft doesn't like GPL -- releasing their
code under GPL would mean that a competing corporation could take the code
and use it to gain an advantage over Microsoft (e.g., they could use the
money they make from selling a Microsoft GPL product to sue Microsoft over
some unrelated issue).  Microsoft doesn't want that to happen.  So they
have a license that allows only *non-profit* uses of their code.  GPL
would allow *for-profit* uses.

I think most of us should like the .NET license just fine.  It gives us
the code.  We just can't use it to make money.  Is that so bad?

It would be a little ironic to hear proponents of a free and open system
condemning Microsoft for blocking them from selling software for profit!

Mike

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