Microsoft is not untouchable by any means, but, probably more than any company in the world right now, they have the power to gain clarity on these sanctions (and possibly also the EAR issue).
Microsoft has obviously turned a corner recently into dramatic support for open source collaboration. They're pushing VSCode. They bought github. They support linux. None of us will be surprised to hear that they're seeking to buy StackExchange or Discord soon.
I'm saying: if these are their true colors, then they mount a full-throated resistance to this nonsense. They have the legal team, the technical talent, and the political connections to do so.
Start by refusing to take down Github Pages of nationals of sanctioned countries and refusing to disappear repositories maintained by the same, absent a specific court order. Then, challenge it in court.
Will the US Government have the gall to go to Seattle and cuff somebody over this? If they do, it will be a major international incident and rallying cry, and that person (and Microsoft) will look internationally heroic.
It looks like you've been using HN primarily for political battle. That's against the site guidelines and we ban accounts that do it. Would you please review https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html and use HN as intended? It's intended for intellectual curiosity.
maybe its time to pick up the thread again and present an effective decentralized version of GitHub and thumb our noses at the notion of borders.
its technically quite feasible..there's no reason the US government gets to decide who writes open source software. and there's no reason github has to play a role here if they choose or are forced to act this way.
While I’ve no familiarity with the law in this area, I’d imagine this is surely still illegal too? If one could just openly pass the business to a foreign partner it would somewhat defeat the purpose of sanctions.
I don't want to be the one to invoke Godwin's law, but there are ways to remain within the law and still resist in a meaningful way when the stakes are high.
Please elaborate. Sanctions don't ban every effort to not be stupid. Compliance isn't condolance. "Following orders" is demonstrably not a great defense.
Edit: Happy to take the karma hit. Stupid is stupid, regardless of jurisdiction and consequences.