Microsoft Strikes Linux Patent Deal with LG Electronics
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Fri 8th Jun 2007 15:01 UTC, submitted by AdministratorX
Microsoft In its second such agreement this week, Microsoft has struck a deal under which it will extend amnesty to a company that's using what the software maker claims is patented Microsoft intellectual property embedded in the open source Linux computer operating system. Under a deal with LG Electronics, disclosed late Wednesday, Microsoft will forgo any Linux-related patent claims against the South Korean electronics manufacturer. In return, Microsoft will gain access to certain intellectual property produced by LG.
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RE[2]: Remarkable
by monodeldiablo on Fri 8th Jun 2007 16:36 UTC in reply to "RE: Remarkable"
monodeldiablo
Member since:
2005-07-06

You're missing my point. Linux is a product that LG uses. Microsoft can no more sue them for using that product than GM can sue me for driving a Toyota, regardless of the number of infringing patents.

It's as if people have abandoned reason purely out of fear. This is the textbook definition of extortion.

Reply Parent Score: 2

RE[3]: Remarkable
by orfanum on Fri 8th Jun 2007 16:39 in reply to "RE[2]: Remarkable"
orfanum Member since:
2006-06-02

But if GM had shown to Toyota just such a potential infringement, and a recall of said Toyota model were a result of an actual infringement of parts or mechanical processes, GM might have just pulled you up...;-)

By the way, I am not defending Microsoft, just analyzing this analogy.

Reply Parent Score: 1