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Saying Bad Things About MS Violates Mass Market License |
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InfoWorld's Gripe Line posts an opinion piece about Microsoft's licensing of Windows XP (A punitive puppeteer?). One complaint: apparently the EULA for FrontPage 2002 reads, in part, "You may not use the Software in connection with any site that disparages Microsoft, MSN, MSNBC, Expedia, or their products or services ... " A Slashdot discussion is available (Microsoft FrontPage License Prohibits Anti-Microsoft Speech). UPDATE You can read an example of the EULA that the Northwestern University Information Technology department expects students to sign (so much for academic freedom) (Microsoft Licensing Product Use Rights [PDF]). ZDNet News reports on other Microsoft licensing woes (Users rip MS license changes).
Highlights of the license agreement:
Section 2 (FrontPage):
You may install and use any number of copies of the software on server computers to provide services as part of your web site on the Internet that you design with FrontPage and that is not a mobile wireless or interactive television site ("Your Web Site").
Apparently, Microsoft fears that student designed websites that serve cellphones or provide interactive television (such as educational I-TV) would compete with their offerings.
You may not use the Software in connection with any site that disparages Microsoft, MSN, MSNBC, Expedia or their products or services, infringe any intellectual property or other rights of these parties, violate any state, federal or international law, or promote racism, hatred, or pornography.
Who reads and approves these things?
Section 5 (Office XP):
You may not create obscene or scandalous works, as defined by federal law at the time the work is created, using the Media Elements.
Where does federal law define "scandalous"?
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