That's like saying that C++ is a poisoned platform because not all the libraries written in C++ are fully open.

So Microsoft has created this fantastic platform, and they've opened up .NET and C# so it can be used this way. That doesn't mean they have to open up every single library they create. There is a difference between the language/runtime and a single library. I feel like you anti-Mono people are just searching for any reason you can to hate on Mono, and it makes no sense.

Yes, I do.

Microsoft has a lot invested in a lot of things other than .NET, so I think you're making a really large leap here to assume that they're talking about .NET here. Every major software company out there has invested into different things, and they'll protect their IP up to the point where it no longer benefits them to restrict it.

It's in Microsoft's best interests to allow people to use .NET and C# everywhere, period. They've already stated that they're applying the Community Promise to their patents so that they won't sue people over them.

Mono, the framework, is fantastic and it's really sad that RMS and the BoycottNovell tards are spreading so much FUD over it. And that some of you here on Slashdot are perpetuating that.

Last year at the Gran Canaria Desktop Summit, Cody Russell asked Richard Stallman if there was anything that Microsoft could do to ease his fears of patent threats, and he said that there was. Microsoft could come out and publicly state that .NET was open to use and promise not to sue people over it. Days later they did exactly that and Richard did not change his opinion.