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Re:AWS gives open source the middle finger? by Galanwe on Wednesday January 09, 2019 @11:26PM (#18871515)
>I disagree. My research suggested that Amazon's policies about open source and game development were stricter.

Worked at microsoft for 2 years, there are the same policies. It was not contractual though. It's just that there were notes broadcasted saying that whenever you discussed with third parties, you should use microsoft tools if possible. Want to meet someone? Send a Bing Maps link, not Google Maps. Want to share a research? Send a Bing Link, not a Google search. etc.

As for the confidentiality clauses, I work in finance, and the rules on IP and personal projects are the same as what you describe.

Re:AWS gives open source the middle finger? by MRD85 on Thursday January 10, 2019 @03:00AM (#18872287)
Today I learnt that there is a Bing Maps
Re:AWS gives open source the middle finger? by rmc on Thursday January 10, 2019 @08:12AM (#18873542)
Microsoft have been very helpful to OpenStreetMap. Since 2010 they allow the OSM community to trace from the Bing aerial imagery to add things to OSM. Roads, buildings, everything you can see with the aerial imagery. It's fantastically useful. OpenStreetMap database would be a fraction of the size if it wasn't for Microsoft granting us this. As of July 2018, they allow us to use Streetside imagery too. (Alas you can't use the actual maps, just the aerial/satelite imagery)

Yahoo allowed tracing from 2007 till 2011.

Re:AWS gives open source the middle finger? by rectang on Thursday January 10, 2019 @03:35AM (#18872403)
Microsoft is big and the contacts I have there tell me that the open source policies vary by department.
Re:AWS gives open source the middle finger? by chrisweekly on Thursday January 10, 2019 @08:05AM (#18873511)
Microsoft has also undergone a massive transformation over the last few years with respect to OSS.