[Tfug] MS .NET source code--look but don't touch

[Andrew Ayre]

OK, got it. Thanks Jude. :)

Jude Nelson wrote:
> @Andrew:
> 
> While Mono is legal *now* because it shares no code from MS.NET, all
> it would take to change that is for one Mono contributor (not even one
> of the core developers) to sneak a peak at the MS source, write a
> patch against Mono, and get the developers to accept it.  Regardless
> of whether or not that developer was truly influenced by the MS source
> is irrelevant--Mono would be potentially tainted enough to be taken to
> court for copyright infringement.  Microsoft would be able to keep a
> tab on who agreed to look at their source, and just watch the Mono
> project's developer mailing list for a while until they see something
> that looks a bit *too* similar to their code or they see someone who
> they know looked at their source successfully submit a patch.  The
> core developers can't verify whether or not the patch was inspired or
> copied from MS--to do so authoritatively would be to look at the
> MS.NET source themselves and make the comparison--so they have no way
> of knowing how valid an external patch may be, and since Mono and .NET
> implement the same interface (the .NET languages), there's bound to be
> similar-looking code between the two anyway.  Basically, Microsoft is
> attempting to dissolve the inter-developer trust in the authenticity
> of Mono's code.  It's a dirty con trick, but both Microsoft and the
> Mono developers know that Miguel de Icaza doesn't have the man-power
> to maintain a clean-room environment (I can't say I feel bad for de
> Icaza--he should have known he had it coming).
> 
> Regards,
> Jude

-- 
Andy
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