Microsoft Joins Apache Software Foundation

And The Pigs Grew Wings.

I must say I was more than a little surprised when I read the announcement a couple of days back. Microsoft is putting $100,000 to ASF to become a platinum partner with the likes of Google and Yahoo!

I can't imagine what will come out of this. Maybe it will be nothing more than an $100k expense on their marketing budget. I was following the Slashdot discussion, Bruce Perens is posting some alarming notes based on his experience with Microsoft's previous attacks on Open Source. This will be fascinating to watch.

Of course the ASF license is zero risk to Microsoft -- they can open what code they want, and pull all ASF licensed code back in and close it again, whenever they wish. Would you like the prospect of Microsoft making money out of your code? Well, IBM is doing the same so clearly it works out well for some people.

Interesting to see where this will lead...