Everyone seems to think that Microsoft effectively won their court case, even after the first judge ruled against them. What does this mean for open source software?
Surprisingly little. The judicial system moves too slowly to decide these questions and the marketplace has already shifted away from Microsoft tools. Microsoft may be relatively unfettered by the judicial system, but there is little they can do to stop people from using their computers as they so choose. Open source software is owned by everyone. It can’t be bought off, taken off the market or destroyed when a company goes out of business. That’s why it’s so attractive to managers and users who want stability. It won’t be going away and there’s no way you’ll have to start paying a yearly subscription fee.
Related Questions
- Everyone seems to think that Microsoft effectively won their court case, even after the first judge ruled against them. What does this mean for open source software?
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- In a case before the Court, how should a judge handle a conflict between his/her personal beliefs and the law?
