Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News

      Microsoft Should Step Up Its Open Source Strategy

      By
      Mary Jo
      -
      August 23, 2006
      Share
      Facebook
      Twitter
      Linkedin

        It’s time for Microsoft to put its software where its mouth has been.

        Late last year, an individual with connections to the open-source community submitted one of Microsoft’s Shared Source licenses to the Open Source Initiative (OSI) for approval as an OSI-sanctioned open-source license.

        The license submitter, John Cowan, was not a Microsoft employee. At press time, we knew little about his motives. We did know, however, that Microsoft was none too pleased that it was being rushed into taking the seemingly momentous step of getting the official OSI blessing of its Microsoft Community License.

        In some ways, I can’t blame Microsoft for rebuffing Cowan’s efforts. Would I want someone submitting a story I had written for publication in a magazine or newspaper without my prior knowledge? Or if I had developed a patentable product or service, would I take kindly to someone else seeking patent approval for it – even in my name?

        Nonetheless, Microsoft’s reaction to this latest development says volumes about the company’s thinking, these days, about open source. Microsoft officials rarely are lashing out at open-source vendors, strategies and policies these days. Instead, Microsoft wants to be seen as a potential partner – perhaps even a “friend” — of the open-source com-munity.

        Just last week, the head of Microsoft’s open source lab invited the Mozilla development team to Redmond to participate in a Vista porting lab to insure that Firefox and Thunderbird work properly on Windows Vista. In late July, Microsoft invited some leaders in the open-source programming community to take part in the .Net Lang confab on campus.

        But Microsoft isn’t ready to take the next step. Microsoft officials have said they believe some of their Shared Source licenses would pass muster with the OSI. OSI members and backers have said they are interested in seeing Microsoft submit these licenses. So why aren’t the Softies submitting the Shared Source licenses them-selves?

        Publicly, Microsoft officials say that vendors – not customers – are the only ones who care whether a software license is OSI-backed or not. I have no idea if this is the case. And if it is true, couldn’t the same be said about the extent to which customers are interested in whether or not a license is Shared Source?

        One very real reason for Microsoft’s reticence is payback. The OSI has not been friendly to Microsoft in the past. Now, Microsoft wants to hold the OSI’s feet to the fire and gain some concessions in return for going through the OSI channels.

        One of the concessions Microsoft is seeking is the final burial of the infamous Halloween Documents. Any Microsoft historians out there remember the Halloween documents? These were internal Microsoft memos dating from the late 1990s, made public by open-source advocate and former OSI president Eric Raymond. The memos, which detailed Microsoft’s divide and conquer plans around open source, are currently hosted on Ray-mond’s personal Web site, but can be found via a direct link on the OSI Web site.)

        The Halloween documents are part of Microsoft’s history. With new leaders like Bill Hilf, Microsoft’s director for platform technology strategy, they may no longer reflect Microsoft’s current position, vis a vis open source. It may be painful for Microsoft for them to be on display, but they don’t deserve to be swept under the rug.

        If Microsoft really wants credit and credibility in the open source world, it needs to stop the squeamishness and show good faith. Why not let bygones be bygones and just let the whole Halloween documents issue drop? And why not submit a couple of Shared Source licenses for OSI approval, just to see what happens?

        Talks with open source leaders are good. But talk is cheap. And beer is free … at least in some open-source circles.

        What do you think, readers? Do you care whether Microsoft gets an official OSI OK for any of its software licenses? Can you see any business, political or other reasons Microsoft should refrain from doing so?

        Talk back below or write me at [email protected] and

        let me know what you think.

        Mary Jo

        MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

        Cybersecurity

        Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

        James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
        I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
        Read more
        Cloud

        Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

        James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
        Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
        Read more
        Big Data and Analytics

        GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

        James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
        I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
        Read more
        Android

        Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro: Durability for Tough...

        Chris Preimesberger - December 5, 2020 0
        Have you ever dropped your phone, winced and felt the pain as it hit the sidewalk? Either the screen splintered like a windshield being...
        Read more
        IT Management

        Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

        James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
        I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
        Read more
        Logo

        eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

        Facebook
        Linkedin
        RSS
        Twitter
        Youtube

        Advertisers

        Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

        Advertise with Us

        Menu

        • About eWeek
        • Subscribe to our Newsletter
        • Latest News

        Our Brands

        • Privacy Policy
        • Terms
        • About
        • Contact
        • Advertise
        • Sitemap
        • California – Do Not Sell My Information

        Property of TechnologyAdvice.
        © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

        Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

        ×