Patent Infringement Lawsuit Filed Against Red Hat, Novell
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Fri 12th Oct 2007 14:16 UTC, submitted by walterbyrd
Legal Groklaw reports that a company called IP Innovation, LLC, has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Novell and Red Hat. Groklaw goes into black helicopter mode, trying to find a tie between this IP Innovation thing and Microsoft - and it finds it too. A few ex-Microsoft employees now work at IP Innovation. Do with it as you please.
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archiesteel
Member since:
2005-07-02

Unless you have hard evidence of impropriety on the part of Microsoft, IP Innovation or their respective employees, you are just wildly speculating and making allegations without any substance.


It *is* speculation, but by no means wild. And while coincidences exist, too many coincidences in a relatively short time can in fact indicate that there might be more a story than the official version. This is one of those times.

Stop reading too much into things.


Start reading more into them.

I personally would suggest that MS or other companies put up or shut up about their claimed IP. If you own patents on software, prove it, and test it in court if needs be. If not, stop bothering everyone so they can get back to business.


Others here have explained why MS can't sue RedHat directly, because it would start a devastating patent war where MS would be as much a target as its competitors. In such a context, it would be *much* safer for them to work through a proxy that doesn't actually sell any products that could be the target of patent suits, but owns patents - a Patent Troll, if you will. That way they achieve their objective (which is to make RedHat/Linux less attractive by appearing to be a patent minefield) without puting themselves in danger.

Just because it's not done in the open doesn't mean it exists. Just as in the SCO/Baystar deal, follow the money trail and you'll get to the man (monkey?) behind the curtain...

Reply Parent Score: 2

Obscurus Member since:
2006-04-20

Touche

Even so, Red Hat could turn around and sue Microsoft anyway, so it still wouldn't make sense for Microsoft to use a proxy to do its dirty work. As soon as one entity starts suing another over patents, everyone will join in the fray. Software patents are an exercise in bluff and bluster - everyone in the know realises that they are ultimately worthless, but those who don't understand will be intimidated and will pay licensing fees on the basis of very questionable patents.

IP vultures exist on the basis that everyone settles out of court or pays licensing fees. The last thing they should want is for any of their patents to be tested in court, and any company that takes their claim to court and loses will open a Pandora's Box that will result in the end of software patents as we know them.

Reply Parent Score: 2