Hi
First off, IANAL.
Is it true that the Microsoft Community Promise really is only a
covenant-not-to-sue (which does not have to be respected by any
third party to whom any patents may be transferred), rather than a
real patent licence? If this is the case, how does this effect
Mono's place in Fedora? Doesn't this potentially make it an
encumbered item?
Fedora accepted mono after the licence was given the nod by the OSL. The
OSL would not have allowed it in if it wasn't free from incumberence and
other naughty things.
Mono is a completely clean implementation of the ECMA standard.
Things such as moonlight and IronPython though are another matter.
IronPython comes under the deranged Microsoft Shared Source thing while
moonlight needs quite a few bits and bobs from MS to have any real
functionality which would make it in the same league as MP3 is (for the
US).
Use mono and enjoy!
TTFN
Paul
--
Biggles was quietly reading his favourite book when Algy burst through
the door. Distracted for a moment, Biggles surveyed what had happened
and turned a page. "Algy old man" he said, clearing his throat, "use the
handle next time..." - Taken from "Biggles combs his Hair"