[GRLUG] Discussion topic for May 29 meeting "Microsoft takes on the free world"

[Rick Vargo]

Here is a good article on the patent infringements Microsoft is alleging
and the so called "agreements" they want to make with other Linux
distros similar to what it currently has with Novell.

http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=199501831

Rick


Bob Kline wrote:
> Add the problem that there doesn't
> really have to be a patent infringement.
> With a lot of lawyers and money,  M$
> can stir up a lot of dust just by implying
> that there are. 
>
> A lot of rewriting was done during the
> SCO fiasco.  But software patents are
> often so vague that even with the best
> of intentions people can't avoid using
> something that someone else claims
> is theirs.
>
> Was Novell actually free to make a
> pact with M$?  It does not own Linux,
> so what kind of deal did it make?
>
>     -Bob
>
>
> On 5/15/07, *Rick Vargo* < rick at vargo.org <mailto:rick at vargo.org>> wrote:
>
>     This is solely a scare tactic by Microsoft to prevent Linux from
>     being
>     adopted by medium to large size corporations.  Unfortunately, this
>     tactic will probably work.  The fear of litigation is a strong
>     motivator
>     in any company.  Any company that chooses to use Linux will be
>     forced to
>     use Novell's Linux (who is protected from these copyright
>     infringements
>     by their partnership with Microsoft) or use a Windows product.
>
>     This will not be the end of Linux or your favorite distro, just a
>     major
>     setback in the adoption of it by corporations until these patent
>     issues
>     are resolved.  If they cannot be resolved, then some major
>     rewrites will
>     need to be undertaken of almost all areas of the OS.
>
>     Rick
>
>
>     Bob Kline wrote:
>     >
>     >
>     > On 5/14/07, *Casey DuBois* <cdubois at n-vint.com
>     <mailto:cdubois at n-vint.com>
>     > <mailto:cdubois at n-vint.com <mailto:cdubois at n-vint.com>>> wrote:
>     >
>     >     Here's a great discussion topic for the May 29th meeting.
>     >
>     >     "Microsoft takes on the free world"
>     >
>     >     <
>     http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/05/28/10003
>     >    
>     <http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/05/28/10003
>     <http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/05/28/10003>>
>     >     3867/index.htm>
>     >
>     >     Casey
>     >
>     >
>     > Get  your faviorite  Linux distributions while you can....
>     >
>     > Whether a recently convicted monopoly would be
>     > allowed to go out and strangle a competitive software
>     > industry,  even if it could,  somes problematic.  M$ does
>     > have an army of lawyers,  and puts about $1B in cash
>     > in the bank each month.
>     >
>     > But if it squashed Linux it would then seemingly have
>     > to go after Apple,  which now effectively uses BSD
>     > Unix.  But Unix has been around since 1969.  Considerably
>     > before windoz.  Seems hard to believe that M$ would have
>     > that many solid patents against an OS that predates it.
>     >
>     > Anyway,  the RIAA and MPAA can sue you in to the
>     > poor house for some music and movies you may have.
>     > Now M$ might want to make an example out of you
>     > over Linux.
>     >
>     > Stay tuned.  It's a monopolist's world today.  And all
>     > up to the courts,  where you get all the justice you can
>     > buy.....
>     >
>     >      -Bob
>     >
>     >
>     >
>     >
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