Microsoft to 'open the doors' of Linux labs

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Your raise good points

>>"Simple pride" is a wild assumption, but that's just a cheap shot...<<

I admit I may be giving them more credit than is due and would also add that the shot may not be as cheap as it is accurate. (;

>>They can't ever get caught doing so though, because nobody ever sees their code, only the compiled binaries, such being the nature of their proprietary business model.<<

It may be possible to see more in compiled binaries than you imagine. D-Link (and several other companies) have been caught using GPLed code in binary-only products and have made cash settlements with the FSF and provided source code to the applications in question. So it isn't a completely opaque process to hide code in a binary.

M$ uses a fair amount of BSD code in their network stack which can be found by using the "strings" program to pick ASCII out of the binary to display such things as copyright notices from the Regents of UC Berkeley and other things as well. And debuggers and network sniffers can find non-ASCII information that can lead to discovery of misappropriation as well.

>>Even if MS were caught, and publicly tried to the fullest extent, the court of public opinion would be bored away from the case by nature of the complexity of the issue that is its reality.<<

This is entirely possible. My point was that legal issues are more easily defused and diffused by this method than the emotionally charged issues of M$ stealing from those that they claimed were communists, thieves, pirates, hippies and hobbyists because those issues are already highly charged as a result of M$'s own marketing machinery. Their own techniques and successes may come back to bite them. But they might not. They do have a magnificent marketing machine.

>>Lastly, MS has more money than they know what to do with; there is very little they can't afford.<<

Afford can refer to credibility as well as purchasing power. I feel they can't afford to be seen for what they are and they have so far been able to marshall the cash and the PR to keep the blinders on the public. This may not last indefinitely. But that may just be wishful thinking on my part.

Posted by: Still Lynn   Posted on: 04/07/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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