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It's gone, this is just for the lawyers
MS knows their source is out there, and that there's no realistic way to stop its spread. Once on the internet, it's gone, there's no going back.

Of course trade secret status for the code in question is also gone. Once a secret has been published, it's no longer protectable under the trade secret laws. They can go after the *original* leak tho. The rest is just following legal conventions, it's part of due diligence but is otherwise practically worthless.

Copyright is another matter. MS has every right to say "Take this down, it's ours and you don't have permission to have it--much less make it available to others."

They wrote it, they own it, and they get to say who gets to see it. That's the same right enjoyed by any author, and MS shouldn't be castigated for using it.

While I'm very curious about the code, I wouldn't download a copy, not because of fears of "tainting" myself, but out of respect for the copyright. They wrote it, it's theirs, and they have the absolute right to share it with anyone they want--and NOT share it with anyone they don't want.
Posted by: wolf_z   Posted on: 02/19/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Microsoft is missing a golden opportunity  vferrara | 02/18/04
Good point  doctormoriarty | 02/18/04
why be secretive?  stephen732@... | 02/18/04
good point but,  ryusen | 02/18/04
m$ should crack down on source code developers  stephen732@... | 02/19/04
The code is now part of public knowledge, and is protected FREE SPEECH.  xunil skcor | 02/19/04
Wrong!  ShadeTree | 02/19/04
There needs to be a fundamental change in copyright law!  xunil skcor | 02/20/04
First amendment?  rapson | 02/19/04
When you speak to me, your thoughts become mine!  xunil skcor | 02/20/04
Sure.  flipper35 | 02/20/04
flipper got a point (NT)  V Sanders | 02/22/04
Share M$ code, go to jail; Share OSS code, free the world!  Bobby Sskcat | 02/18/04
Pure evil  vferrara | 02/18/04
But so true, and all the bad publicity. MS hates this.  DonnieBoy | 02/18/04
I do NOT consider Linux websites, 'real' publicity...  DonB_z | 02/18/04
Since when is ZDNet a "Linux" web site???  DonnieBoy | 02/18/04
Not much between the ears??  roymac_z | 05/17/04
Linux websites  Jay Cash | 02/18/04
Re: Linux websites  idnew2008@... | 02/18/04
Websites are promoting MS, they say that the Linux desktop is a DUD........  idnew2008@... | 02/18/04
Believe half of what you read  IT_User | 02/19/04
Have you been sniffing paint again?  Squawkbox | 02/18/04
Yes, and do you know what a chill pill is?  Bobby Sskcat | 02/19/04
Man, the pain at Microsoft has to be un-bearable.  DonnieBoy | 02/18/04
Interesting line  dtomba | 02/18/04
Microsoft has THOUSANDS of AMERICAN workers... What does OSS do?  DonB_z | 02/18/04
MS makes Billy and Stevie rich, and gives the US a bad name.  DonnieBoy | 02/18/04
Where would you be without MS then?  rock06r | 02/19/04
We'd be in same place we are today  voska | 02/20/04
What do you care what company a programmer works for?  Jay Cash | 02/18/04
On partially true  drichards1953 | 02/19/04
Only partially true  drichards1953 | 02/19/04
What About Think India  wayne@... | 02/19/04
DonB's Comments  bchesmer | 02/19/04
Will MS tuck me in at night?  model_denizen | 02/19/04
The Sky is falling, The sky is falling  voska | 02/19/04
Microsoft has THOUSANDS of AMERICAN workers... What does OSS do?  JDough | 02/19/04
Microsoft has people in many countries!  B.O.F.H. | 02/19/04
puts thousands of workers to work for nothing? (nt)  V Sanders | 02/22/04
Microsoft has the best operating system  idnew2008@... | 02/18/04
Do they have a schedule for releasing it?  IT_User | 02/19/04
It is only for internal Microsoft use, sorry!  B.O.F.H. | 02/19/04
Was the best for the PC  voska | 02/20/04
I must not understand the laws  JWatson77 | 02/19/04
as you shoud  V Sanders | 02/20/04
I don't believe this!  DarbyOhara | 02/19/04
Wrong approach  nite_w0lf | 02/19/04
It's gone, this is just for the lawyers  wolf_z | 02/19/04
There should be a penalty for these people  George Mitchell | 02/19/04
To Posters: Do Not Spread Such MS Filth!  brenthawkinsmd | 02/19/04
Again, puhleeze!  Confused by religion | 02/19/04
ms paid sco, did linux?  V Sanders | 02/22/04
Interesting....  bchesmer | 02/19/04
Microsoft has to do this  rapson | 02/19/04
why do linux people want to steal ms code anyway  V Sanders | 02/20/04

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