Microsoft new rule prohibits benchmarketing

The Inquirer ^ | 9-10-2002 | Mike Magee

[JameRetief]

Microsoft new rule prohibits benchmarketing

Permission needed from Grand Mufti of Licensing

By Mike Magee: Tuesday 10 September 2002, 01:45

MOST OF US just click on those pesky Microsoft licence agreements just to get on with installing them as fast as we can.

But others, probably far more wise, decide to read through the content and ponder its import.

One such person who has done precisely this said there's a new little clause added to all Windows updates which he personally finds hard to stomach.

"* You may not disclose the results of any benchmark test of the .NET Framework component of the OS Components to any third party without Microsoft's prior written approval."

He points out that this significantly affects his ability to trade, as he's a software consultant.

He's often contracted to perform benchmarks on OSes for his clients. This new clause means, he says, that he's got to apply to the Grand Mufti of Licensing and Vole Central just to get permission to do his job.

This, he adds, is not only a significant imposition on him personally, but also threatens to damage his business.

So perhaps we'd all better read right through those licensing agreements before we click the OK button. Although what you do if you're stuck with Windows, heaven alone knows. And it's not saying.

[JameRetief]

Microsoft licensing ping.

[altair]

"* You may not disclose the results of any benchmark test of the .NET Framework component of the OS Components to any third party without Microsoft's prior written approval."

Database companies do the same thing. This isn't a conspiracy. Nothing to see here, move along.

[medved]

Picture Curtis-Wright legally forbidding pilots from informing the US government of results of dogfights between its wildcats and Japanese zeroes in 1942? We might all be speaking Japanese now....

[Denver Ditdat]

Picture Curtis-Wright legally forbidding pilots from informing the US government of results of dogfights between its wildcats and Japanese zeroes in 1942?

Grumman built the Wildcat, but I agree with your point.

[general_re]

Pretty much. This has been a standard part of Oracle's licenses for years now...

[ReadMyMind]

IBM too. We better all switch to Linux/MySQL in a big hurry before these insidious software profiteers take sell our children to Bangkok Brothels.

[altair]

Perhaps so, but computer benchmarks are easy to skew. Microsoft has used this technique before against us (a highly tuned NT box versus a misconfigured Red Hat -- we screamed loudly enough that the benchmark was rerun). I don't particularly blame them if they want to protect themselves from the same thing.