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Re: MS prohibits licensees using open source as development tools?



Matan Ziv-Av <matan@svgalib.org> writes:

> Do we care about this? 

Yes, if you work in a mixed Open Source / Microsoft environment.

> Does this have anything to do with linux?

Yes. From now on you will have to read M$ and other licenses with
extra care to figure out whether or not you can use Linux (which is
specifically listed in the MIT EULA as a "tool" you cannot use)
*during development*, not just as a part of your final product.

My understanding of the EULA is a bit different from Omer Zak's. I
think that the license prohibits a developer from using tools that
come with a variety of licenses (not just GPL) on the basis that the
licenses are "potentially viral". The question of whether or not using
a particular tool actually imposes a particular license on the final
product is irrelevant. 

I do agree with Omer's conjecture that it is plausible that the
license was simply screwed up by an unprofessional lawyer and a very
pointy-haired executive.  On the other hand, the license remains quite
valid as it is, and M$ are in their right to enforce it. I wouldn't put
it past M$ to create such a license with full intent and purpose.

-- 
Oleg Goldshmidt | ogoldshmidt@NOSPAM.computer.org 
If it ain't broken, it hasn't got enough features yet.

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