The XMEN Clan Forums

Interesting article:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=1597

...when open source software becomes more important than proprietary software, then a tipping point will be passed at which the vendors themselves will be the ones that demand GNU terms even before they are asked to offer them. Many major vendors are already at, or approaching that point.

The topic is hot in the press today because Apache, the most popular web server in the world, is not allowed to distribute the newly-approved standard WS-Security, to which MS holds the patents & rights. According to the MS license, use of the standard is royalty-free but each user must individually get a license from MS. (Presumably some click-through method would be sufficient.) Such a scheme is incompatible with Apache's methods and principles, and so they won't/can't include it with their software.

So, it's a game of chicken. MS, if they don't allow Apache to distribute it, possibly won't see the standard adopted by the market, and they get seen as a bully. Again. They're currently having anti-trust issues in Europe again/still, BTW. Presumably they also want the standard adopted so they can profit from it in some way, so if it doesn't catch on they won't see that return. OTOH, what happens to Apache if WS-Security becomes required and they can't implement it? Well, it'll hurt, but it might be a nuisance they can easily overcome or it might be a large gap in their offering, I dunno.

Someone on Groklaw said, "Pass the popcorn!"

Could MS really get someone to make the WS thing a security standard?

I think the only way they could do that, is if it's shown an effective standard.


My money is on the Apache guys.