[Fsf-friends] Microsoft's shared source... a query

[Mahesh T Pai]

Frederick Noronha wrote:

> Interestingly, Microsoft's Tarun Anand also speaks on 'Shared Source:
> Implementation of .NET'.

Nice. Me, I tried digging the m$ site on Shared Source.  I digged and 
digged and digged and digged and clicked on link and clicked on a link 
which said 'more info' and clicked on link which said 'more info' and 
clicked on link which said 'more info' and  ...............   there was 
more and more and more and more and more and more and more on 'benefits' 
of Shared Source; they told that you will get the access to the source 
code if you 'agree' but the license was not available to read ....

> Just a query, how does this concept of 'shared source' compare with 
> GNU/Free Software or Open Source licences?

Access to code will enable you to write programs which work better with 
the s/w.  That is good for M$, coz more people can write programs which 
integrate better with M$ programs.

But it is bad for programers, who 'share' the source with M$, coz M$ 
will not permit to *modify*, *improve* or *re-use* the s/w. There is no 
scope for sharing with your neighbour - you need to sign a 
non-disclosure agreement.

You, will still have to pay for two copies for using the same piece of 
s/w in your office and home computers.  Even if you have one comp. in 
the living room and another in the bed room, you still have to pay two 
license fees.

In fact, the concept of shared source is more dangerous than not having 
any access at all - coz. there are limited ways of implementing concepts 
in coding ( caveat - I am not a programmer ).

If you merely 'see' a piece of code, you are prone to use the same 
methods that is natural human conduct. (Much the same way youngesters 
imitate film stars and their fashions).  That will expose you to 
copyright infringement; coz you cannot re-use.  In effect, you become a 
slave.

Shared source is another way of saying "my code is my code; your code is 
our code".

Mahesh T. Pai.