TheOpen Source
Initiative(OSI) has approved two Microsoft
"shared source" licences.
The OSI has approved the
Microsoft Public
License (Ms-PL) and the Microsoft Reciprocal License
(Ms-RL).
The OSI said the licences satisfy the ten open-source criteria
set by of the
Open Source
definition.
Microsoft's "shared source" initiative was launched around five
years ago, and allows it to contribute to the open source community
without having to closely interact with other firms and
developers.
The OSI acknowledged there was some opposition in the open
source community to the Microsoft licences being approved.
The OSI said, "Microsoft did not ask for special treatment, and
did not receive any. In spite of recent negative interactions
between Microsoft and the open source community, the spirit of the
dialogue was constructive, and we hope that carries forward to a
constructive outcome as well."
