Re: About the status of Microsoft .NET

[J05HYYY]

On Fri, 15 Dec 2023 01:21:56 +0000
sirdigimon <sirdigimon@protonmail.com> wrote:

> Hello!
> 
> I am writing to this email directory to ask specifically about the
> programming environment that powers C# known as Microsoft .NET (see
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.NET for a basic overview) , more
> specifically, about its status and inclusion on software repositories
> across GNU/Linux distributions (like Trisquel GNU/Linux, Parabola
> GNU/Linux, etc.) given its primary issue: Its software patents.
> 
> To my absolute knowledge, the repository that contains the actual
> files powering the programming language goes with a MIT-licensed file
> that covers the project itself. But, .NET is a successor of Mono, and
> Mono, previously, already had patent issues better explained at
> https://www.fsf.org/news/dont-depend-on-mono
> 
> Further, the thread at
> https://trisquel.info/en/forum/net-core-open-source showcases a few
> interesting links on the topic, in particular being:
> http://endsoftpatents.org/2014/11/ms-net/ the most important one, as
> far as relevancy goes with the project itself. Because it covers the
> current state of .NET and the uncertainty of the situation
> surrounding the topic of patents (Due to lack of a prior case of any
> free software, published under the X11/MIT license, having legal
> issues with software patents or a court case surrounding it)
> 
> My other reason for writing this is due to the packages already being
> hosted on repositories of free software distributions but not having
> any entry on the FSF directory listing, which I find rather odd. Due
> to these reasons, I'd like to hear more opinions on the topic, as
> Microsoft only granted a "patent promise" but no explicit license
> means that we are in theoretical danger of MS turning their back and
> showcasing an aggressive position against the free software community
> once more through the use of software patents. As projects with an
> MIT license does not covers protections over them software patents
> (to my knowledge, but if anyone can chime in to correct me or more,
> that'd be most welcome).
> 
> Cheers!
> An user of GNU/Linux software, SirDigimon.

For the list's info:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Invention_Network

Here in Europe we don't really have patents (:- living the dream)!

Many Thanks,

Josh