Microsoft has made one of its most direct overtures to the open-source software community to date, in the form of an invitation to Michael Tiemann, president of the Open Source Initiative (OSI), to begin a "productive conversation." Tiemann, who is also vice president for open-source affairs at Linux distributor Red Hat, said Microsoft had contacted him as president of OSI in order to open up a top-level dialogue, according to a report in industry journal eWeek.
He said the OSI would take the offer at face value, according to the report. Tiemann has exchanged emails with the company but has not yet met anyone. Tiemann would be most likely to meet with Brad Smith, Microsoft's general counsel, who has been involved in attempting to ease relations with the open source world. Red Hat could not immediately confirm the report. The move represents part of Microsoft's latest effort in dealing with the growing popularity of open-source or "free" software, which makes source code available to anyone and isn't controlled by any single company.
News source: InfoWorld
He said the OSI would take the offer at face value, according to the report. Tiemann has exchanged emails with the company but has not yet met anyone. Tiemann would be most likely to meet with Brad Smith, Microsoft's general counsel, who has been involved in attempting to ease relations with the open source world. Red Hat could not immediately confirm the report. The move represents part of Microsoft's latest effort in dealing with the growing popularity of open-source or "free" software, which makes source code available to anyone and isn't controlled by any single company.
News source: InfoWorld
"Opera is honored to receive PC World's World Class 2005 Award, as we strive to lead the browser industry in innovation and excellence," says Jon von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera Software. "We are largely known for our innovative features, but Opera 8 also excels in its security offerings. We not only extend users as much functionality as possible but also a considerable degree of protection while online."
Opera 8 was released on April 19, 2005, and is hailed by reviewers as "fast", "flashy" and "still number one in browser innovation". Known as a viable alternative to the market giant Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Opera's market share is growing. Current download figures for the newest version of the browser totaled four million in the first four weeks of its release.
That's a very ingnorant comment, considering many of MS's best employees contribute to open source projects, both professionally under MS and in their free time away from work.
Interesting, indeed.
Now that on it's own will undoubtedly be a moment to be savoured.
GJ
Last edited by 13486 on 03 Jun 2005 - 19:26
Hope that Open Source folks take their time digesting this matter...
Barney
Isn't this plain wrong? Just because you can see the source, it doesn't mean the company/individual who wrote it doesn't control it!...
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the writer and copyright holder determining the condiditons of distribution.
There are other systems, like Microsoft's "Shared Source" which allows you to look at the code, but not do anything with it.
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