Microsoft's Open Spec Is Bad for GPL, Law Group Says

Software Freedom Law Center (sflc), which provides legal representation "to protect and promote free and open source software", has issued an analysis of Microsofts "commitment to the open specification" (the OSP) and its compatibility with GNU General Public License (GPL). Sflc the ruling is a resounding thumbs on the prospect of Microsofts one-stop portal to support the GPL. Moreover, the process of analysing the sflc also refused to make Microsoft Office Open XML file format as an international standard.

The sflc analysis provided a document issued on March 12 the so-called "Microsofts commitment to open standards: do not guarantee that the GPL." Basically, sflc argued that Microsoft OSP statement is not consistent with the use of GNU GPL. This seems to be a basic GPL on the principle that "the use of the GNU GPL would require the release of all improved version, free software," According to a FAQ describing GNU license. Sflc flagrantly judged the following statement, Microsoft OSP said: "The new version of the previous specifications will be covered separately added to the list." In sflc perspective, which means that, "every time the specifications change, Microsoft can effectively remove the OSP, as it applies to the previous version of the same specifications." Summed up the sflc is that the "one-stop portal does not provide any guarantees to the development of GPL." They also added: "This is the insecurity on the OSP for any free software implementation." One response from the views of the grey sflc Knowlton, group product manager for Microsoft Office System. In his blog of gray matter, he said, the OSP FAQ, which noted that the OSP is to apply to open-source developers.

OSP common problems, but also offered Microsofts response to the question, What is the OSP apply to the GPL. However, the FAQ, and the people have been fundamental legal interpretation of the GPL. Common gray echoed the response, pointing out that "FAQ is the only quote what we all know, and recognize that the GPL is a copyright permission, in the drafting of ways to make many of the problems (not just those relating to patent rights) open to different interpretations. " Grey makes this point IBM and Sun also have similar laws and policies, open-source solutions, using language similar to Microsofts one-stop portal. However, the author of the open-source response to Bruce Pilunshi grey, in the blog, he said: "The reason why the GPL developers find it in law is possible to work with Sun and IBM, both companies direct contribution to the development, based on the GPL LGPL (Code implementation of the same standards as the Covenant on its cover. "

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