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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Member since:2005-06-29
No, the simplest explanation is CLEARLY that the CEO of the biggest software company of the world simply KNOWS ITS SHIT. In addition, Microsoft, being the biggest employer in the business, litters ex-employees all over the place. Lastly, it's kind of LOGICAL that those ex-employees get a new job in a field they worked in at Microsoft too - so an IP guy at Ms is most likely to work in.... the IP field after leaving MS.
THAT is the simple explanation.
Let's put it this way. What if IP Innovation also has a few ex-Sun or ex-IBM employees in its workforce. Does that mean those companies are in the conspiracy too?
Edited 2007-10-13 17:56 UTC
Member since:2005-07-02
I'm sorry, but we're going to have to agree to disagree on what the simplest explanation is, especially given Microsoft's past history, its motives, and the link between the two companies. In fact, there are several problems with your theory.
1) Why did Ballmer make threats again, just a couple of days before, while still not giving any sign that they would act on these threats. That kind of timing smacks of being more than mere coincidence. The simplest explanation, considering that Ballmer undoubtedly knows these people, is that he was aware of the coming suit.
2) MS is the biggest employer, but it still represents only a very small fraction of the overall IT industry. Of all the IT people I know (which must be over 100), only one has worked for MS directly. They way you present it, one would expect every IT company to have a couple of MS ex-employees. That is clearly not the case.
3) Someone leaving the IP dept. at Microsoft would be just as likely (if not more) to go work for the IP dept. of another IT company, and not go work for a Patent Troll, which carries with it a negative stigma (as comments about Patent Trolls here have clearly shown).
Last, but not least: context is important. If it was any other company, I'd probably agree with you. However, Microsoft has a long and well-known history of underhanded shenanigans, and has demonstrated time and time again that it is both ruthless and relentless in trying to destroy its competitors.
We all agree that Open Source is the biggest threat to MS - why would anyone even think that MS is going to lay down and let Open Source gnaw at its base without putting up a fight? From Ballmer's declarations, it's clear that patent lawsuits are one of the ways to hamper FOSS. Then, as he repeats these accusations, a company with ex-MS employees does just that...to me the simplest explanation is that the two are linked, and working for a common goal.
Now, that doesn't mean that the simplest explanation is true - Occam's Razor isn't always right. But in this case I believe it is probable, and I believe that it points to collusion between MS and Acacia. You're welcome to disagree, of course...but please, STOP SHOUTING. It doesn't make your arguments more convincing. :-)
Member since:2005-07-02
According to their website, Acacia (IP Innovation's parent company) has one ex-IBM employee on their management staff, but the site notes that it was early in his careers. Three of them are ex-Microsoft. No one from Sun.
Acacia has sued MS before, over some spreadsheet automation technology. They settled in March 2007. Two of Acacia's ex-MS employees joined the company after this, one in June, and the other one on October 1st, just a few days before Ballmer's patent threats towards Red Hat.
Now, this doesn't mean anything, of course - it's all conjecture - but it does suggest many plausible scenarios. To dismiss them all right away is in my opinion naive. I guess we'll see how this one develops - hopefully, it will highlight the awful mess that is software patents, and strengthen the position of those who want to do away with them altogether. Because if there's one thing we seem to agree on, is that software patents is not a positive force in the IT industry...
Member since:2005-07-07
And the flaw of Occam's Razor is...?
Here is a nice example.
Most of the food that you eat comes out of you as shit. Simplest resolve is that shit is most common ingredient in any food.
If you don't take enough of arguments in equation, you might end up with non sense result.
In here the most important factor would be relation why and how MS employee left.
p.s. I'm pro Linux, and I too think MS is involved at least in some ways. I just disputed Occam's razor argument
Member since:
2005-07-02
I disagree with you here. Considering the facts (ex-MS employee going over to Acacia, Ballmer's repeated threats, and so on), Occam's Razor would suggest that the simplest explanation is that, in fact, MS and Acacia are in cahoots.