From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id ; Tue, 1 Apr 2003 21:18:30 -0500 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id ; Tue, 1 Apr 2003 21:18:30 -0500 Received: from f145.law9.hotmail.com ([64.4.9.145]:11535 "EHLO hotmail.com") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id ; Tue, 1 Apr 2003 21:18:29 -0500 X-Originating-IP: [64.171.164.42] X-Originating-Email: [twocentaolish@hotmail.com] From: "William Gates" To: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Subject: [ANNOUNCEMENT] Microsoft to GPL its source code Date: Wed, 02 Apr 2003 02:29:49 +0000 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 02 Apr 2003 02:29:49.0472 (UTC) FILETIME=[BBE71200:01C2F8BF] Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org We have recently chosen to open up our source because it makes good business sense for us at this time. Here are some of the reasons: The availability of the source code and the right to modify it is very important. It enables us to tap into the unlimited programming resources available to tune and improve our software products. The right to redistribute modifications and improvements to the code, and to reuse other open source code, permits all the advantages due to the modifiability of the software to be shared by large communities, communities we learned that we need to embrace, under certain conditions. The point that differentiates open source software licences from our past licenses is modifiability. In substance, the fact that redistribution rights cannot be revoked, and that they are universal, is what attracts a substantial crowd of developers to work around open source software projects, and we welcome them. We have decided that we would like help to improve the quality of our products, and to improve their functionality. Which, once more, will cause more and more users give the product a try, and probably to use it regularly. Now this is only a temporary GPL. We have slightly modified our licenses to open the source for a limited time period. One the time period expires, all rights to the code, as well as deriviatives, revert back to Microsoft. William Gates _________________________________________________________________ Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN 8. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail