Builder UK: Microsoft Server Licence ‘Shuts Out’ Open Source

“The Free Software Foundation is lobbying the European
government to reject the server licence that Microsoft has proposed
following the European Commission’s antitrust ruling. Microsoft’s
terms, says the FSF, will mean that open source software such as
the widely-used Samba file and print server software, will not be
included in the interoperability measures intended by the EU.

“Earlier this week Microsoft said that it would not appeal a EC
court order to immediately implement antitrust sanctions, although
it still hopes to overturn last year’s antitrust ruling. To comply
with the ruling, Microsoft has agreed to grant licences to rival
makers of server software to allow them to write applications that
can ‘achieve full interoperability’ with Windows client and server
operating systems. This licence must be granted on ‘reasonable and
non-discriminatory terms,’ according to an EU statement…”

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