Microsoft Windows 7 download tool may have violated GPL

[rsvr85]

According to a report by Rafael Rivera, Microsoft's recently released Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool has used GPL code illegally.

The tool, which has been pulled by Microsoft, allows end users to upgrade to Windows 7 in an easy way. Rivera states "while poking through the UDF-related internals of the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool, I had a weird feeling there was just wayyyyyyyyy too much code in there for such a simple tool.

more...

 

[Dinesh]

I really liked this tool. Makes life simple.

 

[logicearth]

I bet it was just thrown together as quickly as possible by a single developer with maybe some commission to the graphic's people to make a few images. But it is funny how we talk about Microsoft like it is this single entity with a collective thought process. People, esp., developers are lazy! Not uncommon for this kind of stuff to happen.

* is a lazy developer... >.> *

And to be honest, like anyone cares about getting the source code. No one who actually doesn't care about these things use the source code. That remains me of the people that always ask for open source applications. Yet they never touch the source code what they really mean is they want a free application. But open source does not mean free as in beer... *sigh*

 

[Night Hawk]

Someone just pointed me another article on this as well.

November 10, 2009 9:32 AM PST

Microsoft pulls Windows 7 download tool

by Ina Fried

Microsoft has halted distribution of its Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool after questions were raised as to whether the software utility makes improper use of open-source code. The tool is designed to help owners of Windows XP-based Netbooks get Windows 7 onto their machines.
(Credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft has halted distribution of a tool aimed at making it easier to put Windows 7 on Netbooks amid allegations that the utility makes improper use of open-source code.

The software maker said on Tuesday that it has pulled down the Windows USB/DVD Tool while it investigates the issue, which was raised last week by Windows blogger Rafael Rivera on his Within Windows blog.

In his blog post, Rivera said Microsoft appears to use code from a tool called ImageMaster that is licensed under the GPLv2 open-source license. The General Public License, like other open-source licenses, allows code to be freely used by others, but has its own set of terms and conditions, such as sharing any modifications made to the code.

Microsoft confirmed it has launched a review of the matter and taken the utility off its online Microsoft Store until that inquiry has been completed.

"Microsoft is looking into this issue and is taking down the (Windows 7 updating) tool from the Microsoft Store site until its review is complete," the company said in a statement. "We apologize to our customers for any inconvenience."

The rest of that is seen at Microsoft pulls Windows 7 download tool | Beyond Binary - CNET News

The issue is also a thorn in Microsoft's efforts to show that it can play nice with the open-source community. As ZDNet blogger Mary Jo Foley notes, this isn't the first time Microsoft has been accused of misusing GPL code.

 

[TheSchaft]

Open Source Code is a pain for any company. Each piece of Open Source needs to go through a review by legal and contracts to avoid just this sort of problem.

(Yet another reason some open source OSs will have a hard time penetrating the corporate environment.)

 

[Night Hawk]

I had a feeling about this one from the start that it wouldn't last. Both articles simply confirmed that.

 

[zezasu]

I am glad my usb still has my windows 7 boot, not that i need it. I am pretty sure this isn't like vista, where it was a constant need to re install every so often.

 

[Night Hawk]

I ran Vista up until this summer and never had to constantly repair things on it. One repair install and two custom installs to drives and one on a virtual disk in 2 1/2yrs. time.

For the 7 RCs I made up a usb key for the 32bit as well as the 64bit there but now simply have two spare flash drives onhand. If I were ever to get a Netbook which I tend to doubt that would likely already see 7 on it by that time.