Filed under: Utilities, Microsoft, Open Source
Microsoft accused of poaching GPL code used in Windows 7 USB download tool
Rafael Rivera was doing his usual Columbo routine on the MS tool's source when he found something in the code which struck him. A section relating to UDF handling appears to have been "borrowed" from ImageMaster - an open source project hosted on Microsoft's own CodePlex service. An by "appears" I mean Rivera's checks with the Reflector .Net code inspector set off the alarms.
As Rivera points out, it's not just the use of the code that is the issue here. It's also the fact that Microsoft has added their own licensing terms.
I'm sure there's some kind of saying about not doing something where you eat, and it certainly sounds like that's what Microsoft has done in this case. Innocent until proven guilty, of course - so we'll wait to see what Microsoft has to say in response in the coming days. For now, they've removed all links to the download tool.
If you're not too concerned with the hullabaloo over the code, you might still be able to find the download on some other sites. A little birdy told me MajorGeeks still has a copy...
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JoePalma said 11:01PM on 11-10-2009
As long as Microsoft makes the code available it's perfectly legal. There is not a "No-Microsoft" clause in the GPL.
Although it's probably being drawn up in GPLv4.
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whiskey said 12:53AM on 11-11-2009
We should have to take a long look at the specifics on the Microsoft License.
Now, I'm not a lawyer but read numeral 2 at http://imagemaster.codeplex.com/license
whiskey said 12:54AM on 11-11-2009
Just go to the site and press License, in numeral 2 says something about GPL having to be there when you do this sort of stuff.
whiskey said 12:56AM on 11-11-2009
Yay hurray for triple comments (I did reload though and the third time it didn't appear) SORRY (^_^;'''')
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enerGI said 2:04AM on 11-11-2009
Looks to me like they should of noted that they were using the code of others, then they put their own licence agreement on it.... Typical Microsoft.
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