Microsoft Agrees to License Windows Source Code

msbmsb writes "Stepping away from previous tradition, "Microsoft Corp. said Wednesday it will license its Windows source code to comply with a European Union antitrust ruling." But in an effort to stop the cloning of the OS, developers will still have to pay an unspecified amount for the code. This is an addition to the "12,000 pages of technical documents and 500 hours of free technical support" to those who purchase a license."

12000 Pages?

[unheard02]

Man, and all we get is clippy to help us out.

How much?

[Average_Joe_Sixpack]

But in an effort to stop the cloning of the OS, developers will still have to pay an unspecified amount for the code.

One Cajillion Dollars

Whoa

[MaynardJanKeymeulen]

Does that mean that Microsoft competitors will be able to add MS(c)SecurityHoles(tm) in their products to ensure compability with all kinds of exploits?

Unspecified amount?

[jpsowin]

developers will still have to pay an unspecified amount for the code

That means it's either free, or will cost trillions of dollars. I vote for the latter.

DEVELOPER: I'd like to purchase your code, please.
MS: Sure, no problem! Sign here.
DEV: Wait, how much is this again?
MS: It's an unspecified amount.
DEV: Oh, okay, that's right. Here is my signature. My company will foot the bill.
MS: We will send the bill soon--it will take a few weeks to finish printing. Very good doing business with you, sir. You are an intelligent man. We are a small company.

Re:Should help Security

[dotgain]

Yeah, I can see it now. People flocking en masse to fix the holes, and pay for the privilege!

Wahoo!

[Billly Gates]

Now I can learn how to create secure bugfree code from the masters.

Re:Wait... That seems... SLANTED???

[oneiros27]

You act like it's something new ... just watch any infomercial, or commercial for exercise/kitchen gadgets at 2am:

Have you ever wished you could figure out how to make your application work with Microsoft Windows?

Now you can!

How much would something like this be worth?

We don't know, either ... just send us a blank check, and ask for rush delivery!

Act now, and we'll throw in 12,000 pages of documentation*.

But wait, there's more ... we'll also throw in 500 hours** of FREE tech support!***

--
* some pages intentionally left blank
** no refund for time spent on hold
*** free tech support may incur phone charges on your part.
Offer not valid in countries we're not getting sued for unlawful business practices

Re:Europe

[pubjames]

Spoken like a true Brit. Those Europeans aren't like us Brits, we're fricking great at everything.

Can someone mod me as "insightful" as well please?

sweet

[Tachikoma]

i hope it gets leaked on the web.
that way i can cut-and-paste it into a Obfuscated code [wikipedia.org] contest!

O_o

[SaidinUnleashed]

Did I just see a pig fly by overhead?

Re:I can speak to this

[hunterx11]

I can assure you that the Man Moth is no myth--he is very much a reality.

Re:Europe

[stunt_penguin]

And also why the Irish economy is kicking the British economy's ass. Britain is in decline, while Ireland and much of europe is in the ascendency.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:12000 Pages?

[GoodOmens]

Bets on when it will be leaked?

Re:The code's already out

[bogado]

MS put something special in each copy of the code

And you know what that is? Love... MS takes cares that each copy of the windows code has that special touch that makes the code seem likes it got freshly out of your mom's computer.

Windows, now with something special(TM).
Available to you for only an unspecified amount of money.

Re:How much?

[Orion Blastar]

You forgot, Steve Ballmer dressed up as Dr. Evil, putting his pinky to his lips:

"We shall license the Windows source code, for, ....... One Cajillion Dollars! Muahahaahahahahahahahahaah!"

Re:Name a game developer who...

[Thorwak]

Name one game developer that has control over the vast majority of desktop computers.

Sony? :P

Sorry I just HAD to...

Too late ...

[Anonymous Coward]

Ummm, I think Microsoft hit this one too late. The Windows source code has already been reverse-engineered, and has been floating around for quite a while. I will reproduce it here for convenience' sake: /* Source Code Windows 2000 */

#include "win31.h"
#include "win95.h"
#include "win98.h"
#include "workst~1.h"
#include "evenmore.h"
#include "oldstuff.h"
#include "billrulz.h"
#include "monopoly.h"
#include "backdoor.h"
#define INSTALL = HARD

char make_prog_look_big(16000000);
void main()
{
    while(!CRASHED)
    {
        display_copyright_message();
        display_bill_rules_message();
        do_nothing_loop();

        if (first_time_installation)
            {
            make_100_megabyte_swapfile();
            do_nothing_loop();
            totally_screw_up_HPFS_file_system();
            search_and_destroy_the_rest_of-OS2();
            make_futile_attempt_to_damage_Linux();
            disable_Netscape();
            disable_RealPlayer();
            disable_Lotus_Products();
            hang_system();
            } //if
        write_something(anything);
        display_copyright_message();
        do_nothing_loop();
        do_some_stuff();

        if (still_not_crashed)
        {
        display_copyright_message();
        do_nothing_loop();
        basically_run_windows_31();
        do_nothing_loop();
        } // if
    } //while

    if (detect_cache())
        disable_cache();

    if (fast_cpu())
        {
        set_wait_states(lots);
        set_mouse(speed,very_slow);
        set_mouse(action,jumpy);
        set_mouse(reaction,sometimes);
        } //if /* printf("Welcome to Windows 3.1"); */ /* printf("Welcome to Windows 3.11"); */ /* printf("Welcome to Windows 95"); */ /* printf("Welcome to Windows NT 3.0"); */ /* printf("Welcome to Windows 98"); */ /* printf("Welcome to Windows NT 4.0"); */
    printf("Welcome to Windows 2000");

    if (system_ok())
        crash(to_dos_prompt)
    else
        system_memory = open("a:\swp0001.swp",O_CREATE);

    while(something)
        {
        sleep(5);
        get_user_input();
        sleep(5);
        act_on_user_input();
        sleep(5);
        } // while
    create_general_protection_fault();

} // main