[Pyrion]

I wonder if Microsoft will honor the GNU license and provide its source code free-of-charge...

When hell freezes over...

[canuck_conservative]

Yeah, if you want to see the "source code", see post #2 here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/797424/posts

What a laugh!

[HiTech RedNeck]

Count on it, Gates and atty's have figured out a way around this if they are going to start offering Linux. My guess is: it will be a Winux that allows both Linux and Windows applications to run simultaneously on a Palladium box. The Linux piece will be open source but the interface will heavily involve the Fritz module and that's hardware.

[PokeyJoe]

Uhm, release of source code for an application is not necessary under the GNU. The LINUX OS is free under GNU, but applications that run under LINUX need not provide source code as I've understood the conversation.

Codeweavers does not release the source code for their enhanced WINE development products (Crossover Office, developed for $$) though they do release WINE itself (developed under a separate GNU) , and NetTraverse does not release the source code Win4Lin ($$), and NVidia doesn't even release the source code for their X video drivers (to protect trade secrets).

Penguin People - please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Publius6961]

I wonder if Microsoft will honor the GNU license and provide its source code free-of-charge...

Java anyone?

[B Knotts]

The GNU license only applies to software licensed under it. Microsoft is free to sell proprietary software that runs on Linux. Many vendors already do.

The GPL would only affect them if they tried to release their own Linux kernel, incorporated some GPL code into their software, or linked to a GPLd library (most libraries are LGPLd to allow linking by proprietary software).

[altair]

I wonder if Microsoft will honor the GNU license and provide its source code free-of-charge...

Don't spread fud. There is nothing about Linux that requires userland applications to be GPL. Microsoft already has provided free (as in beer) Linux software. They provided binaries for their first streaming sound player. I was never able to get it to work, but the binaries existed.