On Microsoft's patent pledge

Of Microsoft’s Patent Pledge for Non-Compensated Developers (which was a key part of last week's pact between the software giant and Novell), Software Freedom Law Center CTO Bradley Kuhn issued a statement which included:

A careful examination of Microsoft's Patent Pledge for Non-Compensated Developers reveals that it has little value. The patent covenant only applies to software that you develop at home and keep for yourself; the promises don't extend to others when you distribute. You cannot pass the rights to your downstream recipients, even to the maintainers of larger projects on which your contribution is built…..Further, to qualify for the pledge, a developer must remain unpaid for her work.