Linked by Thom Holwerda on Fri 8th Jun 2007 15:01 UTC, submitted by AdministratorX
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[15]: Breaking story...
by sappyvcv on Sat 9th Jun 2007 03:46
in reply to "RE[14]: Breaking story..."
Member since:2005-07-06
Ok, how are they similar besides for the CONCEPT of "protection"? That's one respect and its a poor parallel at that.
Even if you could argue it is an analogy at all (which I still don't think it is), it would such a poor analogy that trying to make it makes you look bad.
RE[16]: Breaking story...
by archiesteel on Sat 9th Jun 2007 04:10
in reply to "RE[15]: Breaking story..."
Member since:2005-07-02
Ok, how are they similar besides for the CONCEPT of "protection"? That's one respect and its a poor parallel at that.
That's your opinion. I believe it's a pretty strong parallel. MS makes unsubstantiated allegations that Linux violates patents it holds, insinuating that Linux (and other FOSS) create a legal risk - the risk being that Microsoft will sue those who distribute (and possibly those who use) Linux. It then offers "patent amnesty" deals to companies to companies in order to protect them from its veiled threats of litigation.
In other words, MS manufactures a threat, then offers protection from that threat in exchange for something they want. That's very similar to what the mafia would do, though obviously the methods employed would be very different.
Even if you could argue it is an analogy at all (which I still don't think it is)
Actually, it is one. You've admitted as much in your previous post, and the dictionary definition applies perfectly.
it would such a poor analogy that trying to make it makes you look bad.
I don't think it's a poor analogy at all, and I've demonstrated why. Making the analogy may make me look bad in *your* eyes, but that's only because of your pro-MS bias. I'll wager that the majority of those reading this thread will actually *agree* with the analogy - so in fact the only person looking bad right now is you, for starting this useless (and off-topic) pettifoggery about whether this is a valid analogy or not.
The analogy was made. People seem to agree that it is valid. Deal with it.
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Member since:
2005-07-02
From www.thefreedictionary.com:
1.a. Similarity in some respects between things that are otherwise dissimilar.
The key words here are "in some respect." In some respects, what Microsoft is doing is reminescent of a protection racket. Therefore one can note an analogy between the two.
You admit as much by saying that one can make "one or two parallels". Well, I hate to break it to you, but that's enough to make an analogy.
As for whether it's a good or bad analogy, well, that's a matter of opinion. I think it's much more accurate than Ballmer's "Linux is a cancer" (or its modern incarnation, "the GPL is viral"...).