Microsoft claims that free software like Linux violates 235 of its patents

[equk]

I just read this and didn't know whether to laugh or cry haha

Microsoft claims that free software like Linux, which runs a big chunk of corporate America, violates 235 of its patents. It wants royalties from distributors and users. Users like you, maybe. Fortune's Roger Parloff reports.

The conflict pits Microsoft and its dogged CEO, Steve Ballmer, against the "free world" - people who believe software is pure knowledge. The leader of that faction is Richard Matthew Stallman, a computer visionary with the look and the intransigence of an Old Testament prophet.

Caught in the middle are big corporate Linux users like Wal-Mart, AIG, and Goldman Sachs. Free-worlders say that if Microsoft prevails, the whole quirky ecosystem that produced Linux and other free and open-source software (FOSS) will be undermined.

Source - CNN

 

[FragTek]

Sorry Kemp, but M$ TBH.

 

[Rastalovich]

I swear they stand infront of a mirror after a shower doing the old Highlander thing -- "There can be only 1 !!", with a can of m$ deoderant.

 

[nathan]

This is nothing new, they were on about it last year. Hope they dont go ahead with it. But then again, its what you have patents for.

 

[Raging]

microsoft are like cyotes,if they spot something they can maul,they will go ahead and do just that

just leave the nix'ers alone tbh

maybe they should think why they might be using nix instead of winblows and take note.

Raging.

 

[Toxcity]

Microsoft are just nit picking..

 

[ExtremeBlizzard]

There just afraid cause Linux is better and Free.

 

[nathan]

There just afraid cause Linux is better and Free.

if that were true, wouldnt we all be using it? Im in no way sticking up for microsoft, But everyone looks for different things in an OS, each os has good and bad things. There is no super os that satisfies everyones taste.

 

[Toxcity]

if that were true, wouldnt we all be using it? Im in no way sticking up for microsoft, But everyone looks for different things in an OS, each os has good and bad things. There is no super os that satisfies everyones taste.

Spot on!

Windows just happens to be the universal one.

Used most by the world.

Where as MAC is good for media and video editing and so on.

(whats linux good for?)

 

[nathan]

Spot on!

Windows just happens to be the universal one.

Used most by the world.

Where as MAC is good for media and video editing and so on.

(whats linux good for?)

servers? tight people?

(i'm the latter by the way)

 

[Joe]

if that were true, wouldnt we all be using it? Im in no way sticking up for microsoft, But everyone looks for different things in an OS, each os has good and bad things. There is no super os that satisfies everyones taste.

So you claim if you had no use for Win32 specific programs that you would not use it .

MS have the West locked in due to 'legacy' personally if ATi wld get some linux drivers out (CAPABLE DRIVERS) I would run GNU/Linux All the time .. currently i spend most of my time in windows because i am a gamer and a GPU folder.

this will all change when the ''developing'' world has progressed -- new superpowers that will be built on Linux with an active user base bigger than the US(OLPC, Current shift by most euro + 'Eastern' Governments to linux etc etc etc) <<< I believe this it the main motivation for the current course of action by M$

 

[nathan]

So you claim if you had no use for Win32 specific programs that you would not use it .

Huh? i know im bit knackered, but i havent discussed any reasons why i use the os i do, infact i havent even said what os i use.

 

[blackoper]

this is a PR (FUD) campaign by Microsoft. This is all about posturing for their Novell deal with Suse linux. For those that don't know Suse linux is getting ready to be screwed when the GPL3 gets adopted in July by the rest of the linux opensource community. Until MS comes out and says what the 235 violations of code are, they can't take any organization to court. Patent violaters have to be informed of exactly what they are violating so it can be fixed before court action is taken.

 

[PP Mguire]

But they "should" know since they are claiming exactly 235. RIIIIIGHT.

 

[Joe]

But they "should" know since they are claiming exactly 235. RIIIIIGHT.

every source changed that figure and MS themselves keep loosing track of where the violations are (steve says 40ish in the kernel son wnak-stain M$ PR dcik says 68ish )

BS & FUD TBH (+ whatever acronyms you wish to add)

 

[PP Mguire]

Yea thats what i thought.

 

[Nagaru]

Ridiculous, I can see many patent invalidations if Microsoft do try to take this to court. Hopefully someone will counter sue Microsoft to cover lost coding time, negative publicity, and other damages.

 

[Joe]

Ridiculous, I can see many patent invalidations if Microsoft do try to take this to court. Hopefully someone will counter sue Microsoft to cover lost coding time, negative publicity, and other damages.

they are called the Open Invention Network and have M$ by the danglies

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/pos...crosoft-patent-threat-it-works-both-ways.html

 

[Nagaru]

Woot Woot! Good to see there is something standing in their way.

 

[PP Mguire]

Microsoft must go down!!!!