For those of you not following the story here is Microsoft’s press release from several days ago:
REDMOND, Wash., July 20, 2009 — Today, in a break from the ordinary, Microsoft released 20,000 lines of device driver code to the Linux community. The code, which includes three Linux device drivers, has been submitted to the Linux kernel community for inclusion in the Linux tree. The drivers will be available to the Linux community and customers alike, and will enhance the performance of the Linux operating system when virtualized on Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V or Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V.
The code is licensed under the GPL v2, an unheard-of move from Microsoft to be making open-source contributions, especially to Linux, and at the magnitude of 20,000 lines. Some of the initial reactions weren’t quite on the money though – the drivers are to help linux run on Windows. They’re simply being competitive and trying to improve their own product.
But wait! Then they started saying that the code was released because Microsoft were originally working in breach of the GPL (the Microsoft-haters jumped on this one).
And now Sam Ramji, a senior director at Microsoft says:
Microsoft on Monday contributed the Linux Integration Component drivers to the Linux community for the reasons stated in our release. Microsoft chose the GPLv2 license for the mutual benefit of our customers, partners, the community, and Microsoft.
Microsoft’s decision was not based on any perceived obligations tied to the GPLv2 license.
Ah well. Maybe it’s not such a big deal after all. Back to those Microsoft-haters I mentioned before – I reckon Linus is right that there can be too much blind hatred in the open-source community of Microsoft.