Personally I don't feel this is a big deal unless you make it one. You can access the source code, you can redistribute the only catch is you have to acknowledge the patent. Unless someone can give me specific examples of why this violates the GPL and other open source licenses other than, "It's Microsoft and Microsoft is evil" I do plan to deliver a software application utilizing this technology for Linux.

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As reported yesterday:

Josh Ledgard: Would you have interest in working on these types of projects with Microsoft? If not, what could entice you?

Stop pulling stupid stuff like this perhaps?

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"I do plan to deliver a software application utilizing this technology for Linux."

Then you, sir, are a fool. And further, what's with the 'here's my email, send me a signed letter where you personally take the time to spoon fed me the information on why my foolishness is, in fact, foolish'?

You obviously didn't read the thread. Microsoft's patent license is explicitly non-sub-licensable, which means that you may not redistribute to anybody who has not already accepted Microsoft's license (and by accept, I mean, printed it out, signed it, and faxed it back to Microsoft).

While that may not seem like a big deal to you, keep in mind that that's an incredible burden to place on freely distributed software, which would otherwise circulate quickly and freely.

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