Microsoft bans open source.

Started by akiwiguy, February 17, 2011, 01:25:36 PM

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Tsulu

I wouldn't call this Microsoft banning open source.

What Microsoft does here is banning commonly used strong copyleft licenses like GPL. The simple reason for this (which is exactly the same reason why the VLC player has been removed from Apple's AppStore) is, that their store terms and the way it works are simply not compatible with the license. People can't just recompile the tool and install it on their device, they have to aquire a certificate first, which costs money, which is against GPL.

Dual-licensing a software would solve this issue.
"This software is licensed under the terms of the MIT license if compiled for Windows Mobile or iOS, and is licensed under the terms of GPL for any other platforms."

Right, the issue with programs using (L)GPL software, libraries or code remains, but there's nothing much one can do about that. Microsoft and Apple will have to change their store terms and make their platforms open, but that will most likely not happen. Sif, Apple gets 30% of anything sold on iTunes.

bommel

Quote from: Tsulu on February 24, 2011, 12:54:55 PM
Right, the issue with programs using (L)GPL software, libraries or code remains, but there's nothing much one can do about that. Microsoft and Apple will have to change their store terms and make their platforms open, but that will most likely not happen. Sif, Apple gets 30% of anything sold on iTunes.
Yeah, unlikely to happen... :(

Sіr. Ηaxalot

QuoteThe Marketplace Application Provider Agreement (APA) already permits applications under the BSD, MIT, Apache Software License 2.0 and Microsoft Public License. We plan to update the APA shortly to clarify that we also permit applications under the Eclipse Public License, the Mozilla Public License and other, similar licenses and we continue to explore the possibility of accommodating additional OSS licenses.

http://windowsteamblog.com/windows_phone/b/wpdev/archive/2011/03/08/an-update-on-windows-phone-marketplace-new-tips-policies-and-regional-access-program.aspx

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03/09/microsoft_open_source_openlogic_survey/

http://wmpoweruser.com/microsoft-clarifies-open-source-marketplace-policy/