15 votes

Does the Oracle v. Google court case mean that Wine/DXVK is illegal?

I've been thinking about this but based on the current rulings in the Oracle v. Google court case, it would seem that APIs are indeed copyrightable.

This would mean that Wine would be infringing on Microsoft's copyright of the Windows API and system calls. Of course it wouldn't matter until Microsoft actually does something about it. But as Wine gets better and better and its market share higher and higher, I worry that Microsoft might set their sights on Wine now that they have the law on their side.

9 comments

  1. [9]
    PaKYr
    Link
    Microsoft's really been trying to cozy up to the open source community lately. They now offer bash for Windows, have started making software for Linux, have open sourced some of their products,...

    Microsoft's really been trying to cozy up to the open source community lately. They now offer bash for Windows, have started making software for Linux, have open sourced some of their products, etc. I don't think Microsoft would do anything this drastic and risk jeopardizing the tentative relationship they've built with the open source community over the past few years.

    9 votes
    1. [7]
      implosio
      Link Parent
      But this is Microsoft we're talking about here, a multi-billion dollar company that will crush anything in its path if it thinks it get in the way. Just because recently they're all cozying up...

      But this is Microsoft we're talking about here, a multi-billion dollar company that will crush anything in its path if it thinks it get in the way. Just because recently they're all cozying up doesn't mean anything, they can change their mind at a drop of a hat.

      Wine is getting real good nowadays, it used to be it could only run decades old programs or new ones awfully, let alone games. I wouldn't put it past them if they think they have to get rid of it.

      5 votes
      1. [6]
        PaKYr
        Link Parent
        The skepticism is understandable considering Microsoft's monopolistic and unethical past. But they really do seem to be trying (at least publicly) to turn a new leaf. Case in point. I just don't...

        The skepticism is understandable considering Microsoft's monopolistic and unethical past. But they really do seem to be trying (at least publicly) to turn a new leaf. Case in point. I just don't see them going after WINE, especially since they haven't gone after React OS, a project that Microsoft would probably have little trouble attacking legally just based on the look and feel aspect alone, putting aside the fact that it attempts to be able to run all Windows software. Of course, I could be entirely wrong, but one can hope.

        5 votes
        1. [5]
          implosio
          Link Parent
          It just sucks that Microsoft holds all the cards here and if they just change their mind the entire wine scene is basically dead. At least before the court case there was some defense against this...

          It just sucks that Microsoft holds all the cards here and if they just change their mind the entire wine scene is basically dead. At least before the court case there was some defense against this saying that its not Microsoft's code.

          But no... fucking oracle just had to butt their damned head in just to squeeze out a little more cash and mess everything up. Oracle has to be literally the worst tech company out there and that's saying something.

          5 votes
          1. patience_limited
            Link Parent
            No, "worst tech company" goes to Palantir, the spawn of Oracle's boss. But that's based on a measure of harm done to democratic civilization, and off-topic. On-topic, it's giant owners of...

            No, "worst tech company" goes to Palantir, the spawn of Oracle's boss. But that's based on a measure of harm done to democratic civilization, and off-topic.

            On-topic, it's giant owners of intellectual property and their sharp-fanged lawyers. When Microsoft (or any of the other big players) runs short of innovation and marketplace dominance (again), they'll let the dogs out, as Oracle has done.

            5 votes
          2. [3]
            PaKYr
            Link Parent
            Well, on the bright side, our legal system does work properly at least some of the time as far as the realm of software is concerned. Case in point, the SCO disputes. And Google is trying to...

            Well, on the bright side, our legal system does work properly at least some of the time as far as the realm of software is concerned. Case in point, the SCO disputes. And Google is trying to appeal to the Supreme Court, so even this case isn't necessarily set in stone. Granted, looking at the relatively steep incline of Oracle's stock chart does make my eye twitch a bit.

            4 votes
            1. [2]
              implosio
              Link Parent
              Seeing that the first Supreme Court petition that Google did got rejected, it doesn't lend much hope that the second one will be accepted. Even if the petition did get accepted, knowing the...

              Seeing that the first Supreme Court petition that Google did got rejected, it doesn't lend much hope that the second one will be accepted.

              Even if the petition did get accepted, knowing the current state of the Supreme Court who knows how the actual result would turn out.

              Probably just going to have to wish for a miracle to happen to get this decision overturned.

              2 votes
              1. PaKYr
                Link Parent
                At the very least the EU seems to have a good policy on open source software (I will scrape the barrel of positivity until it's completely and hopelessly empty :-).

                At the very least the EU seems to have a good policy on open source software (I will scrape the barrel of positivity until it's completely and hopelessly empty :-).

                3 votes
    2. Amarok
      Link Parent
      I'd agree. If Microsoft was still under the control of Gates or Ballmer they'd be on top of that, but the new kinder, gentler Microsoft we've seen since they left hasn't been very aggressive at...

      I'd agree. If Microsoft was still under the control of Gates or Ballmer they'd be on top of that, but the new kinder, gentler Microsoft we've seen since they left hasn't been very aggressive at all. They've started taking interoperability very seriously.

      4 votes