The Linux community is splitting - right down the middle, at this point - over Microsoft's controversial claims that the open-source operating system infringes on patents it holds. Last Tuesday, Mandriva became the third Linux vendor within five days to say it isn't interested in signing a licensing deal with Microsoft to avoid possible infringement claims. A blog posting to that effect by Mandriva CEO Francois Bancilhon followed similar declarations by officials at Red Hat and Canonical.
To view parent comment, click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Member since:2005-07-06
Microsoft don't need to "show the world the patents being infringed", because, like it or not, patents are legal (in USA at least) and are to respect.
Isn't there such thing as you are innocent until proven otherwise?
MS patents that Mr Gates claims are in X server, KDE, Gnome, projects shared in multiple unix OS (linux, Solaris, BSD).
Not particulary used a lot on servers so i wonder how the corporate will be affected unless they fear for any lawsuit they don't have the financial stamina.
Member since:2006-02-27
You don't really believe that do you ... are you really that naive?
1. There are also very likely patents infringed by Microsoft, one of the main reasons why they won't sue ... a patent war would show that most of the patents Microsoft holds would probably not hold in a court case, and it is never a good idea to sue some of your customers, which they would need to do.
Patents might be legal, but that does not mean that they will hold up in court ... fact is it is impossible for any programmer today to not infringe on somebody's patent ... which shows that the whole patent system is utterly broken and has the reverse effect from what it was intended to do (which is protect smaller companies who come up with new ideas and implementations)
2. There is no urgency to do anything, it is business as usual - Microsoft making wild unsubstantiated claims and spreading FUD ... c'mon Microsoft has always done this, it is part of their corporate identity. Anyways it is very clear all Linux Vendors say the same thing ... no one believes that Linux infringes patens
Member since:2007-02-17
They should be respected only in the US, and even then only if they are valid.
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20070513234519615
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20070430121005424
If an idea is present in a lot of places, it is obvious, and trying to "monetise" it via a patent will fail due to the KSR decision (see Groklaw articles above). Most of Microsoft's patents fail because either they are obvious, or because there is plentiful prior art.
Unix pre-dates both Windows and Microsoft.
Edited 2007-06-27 09:19
Member since:
2006-02-04
Microsoft don't need to "show the world the patents being infringed", because, like it or not, patents are legal (in USA at least) and are to respect.
2º Unix (not only linux) may think about it (lawyers), bacause the MS patents that Mr Gates claims are in X server, KDE, Gnome, projects shared in multiple unix OS (linux, Solaris, BSD).
3º There is a urgent need that big unix guys explain what
they think about it, or unix world will be a permanent suspect plataform (some big enterprise rely in this software to business).