The Microsoft Code Leak - Some Possible Implications, by Dennis S. Karjala, Esq.

Media reports say that portions of Microsoft's source code for Windows have leaked and found their way onto the internet. Is this now an opportunity for would-be cloners of Windows to find out how it really works and make their own, let us assume noninfringing, operating systems that are Windows compatible? Or would any such attempt be a violation of Microsoft's copyright or trade secret rights, subjecting such a competitor to suffer the legal wrath of Microsoft's litigation teams?

Groklaw-article, written by Professor Dennis S. Karjala.