Microsoft Will Even Prohibit Charitable FOSS Fundraising Through the “Microsoft Store”A few weeks ago, Microsoft quietly updated its Microsoft [app] Store Policies, adding new policies (which go into effect next week), that include this text:
all pricing … must … [n]ot attempt to profit from open-source or other software that is otherwise generally available for free [meaning, in price, not freedom].
The problem Microsoft is trying to address here is the countless number of paid VLC media players/Libreoffices/GIMPs on the store that don’t break their rules, but are also not run by the respective foundation.
Obviously this is a totally wrong approach, but that’s the actual issue being addressed by Redmond.
or at least, thats the cover they’re using to conceal their interests.
pretty difficult to believe a company with their resources (let alone history) cares so deeply about that issue, yet falls so unbelievably short of a correct approach.
all the while perfectly aligning with their interests, and the push to decouple opensource from stepping on commercial toes.