Microsoft still complaining about the GPL

Author
Aron Schatz
Posted
May 9, 2002
Views
1459
Tags Software

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Microsoft is in yet another legal battle (almost) over the Samba file sharing program used in Linux OSes to talk to Windows boxes. Microsoft complains that Samba developers did not sign an agreement, but used it without authorization. The issue in despute is CIFS, common internet file sharing.[PAGEBREAK]

Specifically, Microsoft requires programmers to sign an agreement that prohibits using information in the document when building software governed by the General Public License (GPL). Among the products affected by the restriction is Samba, widely used software that competes with file sharing technology in Microsoft's Windows operating system. Samba uses CIFS to communicate with client systems.

"In brief, it sucks," said Jeremy Allison, a leader of the Samba project. He called Microsoft's agreement "a direct attack" on Samba and the GPL.


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