MICROSOFT'S shy and retiring boss Steve 'there's a kind of hush' Ballmer might be gearing up to take Linux distributors to the cleaners. According to Linux World, Ballmer is whispering to all who can hear that Linux infringes on Microsoft's intellectual property.
Speaking at the Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS) conference in Seattle, Ballmer said that Vole signed a deal with SuSE Linux distributor Novell because the outfit was using Microsoft's intellectual property. He said that the deal was a way for Vole to get an 'appropriate economic return' for its shareholders from Microsoft's innovation. The statement is the first from Ballmer which places the Novosoft deal in context and indicates what Microsoft might do to try and shaft Linux.
View: The full story
News source: The Inq
Speaking at the Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS) conference in Seattle, Ballmer said that Vole signed a deal with SuSE Linux distributor Novell because the outfit was using Microsoft's intellectual property. He said that the deal was a way for Vole to get an 'appropriate economic return' for its shareholders from Microsoft's innovation. The statement is the first from Ballmer which places the Novosoft deal in context and indicates what Microsoft might do to try and shaft Linux.
View: The full story News source: The Inq
The Inq is not a news source, it's the rear end of a bull.
The Inq is not a news source, it's the rear end of a bull.
Novell are basically pleading guilt for a huge heap of money.
All Microsoft have to do is sue or threaten to sue any non Suse distros or users.
I think now is the time for a Linux syndicate to form to defend developers and users of Linux against false accusations.
just what excatly is microsoft saying novell did wrong?
Intellectual property can be virtually anything Microsoft wants. Its so vague that noone can argue whether they are right are wrong. I agree that Linux uses a lot of Microsoft IP, i just fail to see how one company can be held accountable for all of this. Linux is open source?
Intellectual property can be virtually anything Microsoft wants. Its so vague that noone can argue whether they are right are wrong. I agree that Linux uses a lot of Microsoft IP, i just fail to see how one company can be held accountable for all of this. Linux is open source?
WHOA!!! Hold on here...
You said that you agreed that Linux uses a lot of Microsoft IP, and then turn around and say that Linux is Open Source?
How about "Open IP appropriation" - or, better yet, "Open IP Theft". You said it yourself right there; that Linux uses Microsoft IP, but Linux uses said IP owned by Microsoft.
That's the final nail in the coffin for Linux if it actually uses Microsoft IP *anywhere* in it.
I wonder what size of coffin it would take to hold "Tux"?
The story is commenting on Ballmer's remarks from PASS last week, which were already reported here at the time.
Methinks you news posters need to read as well as post.
http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=36192
- lol
I mean, it is possible. Why is everyone so quick to assume that MS is wrong here. I'm sure Suse wouldn't have gone for the deal if there was no basis for it. Maybe someone in MS showed them some code...
I'm not saying MS is right or wrong, just that we don't know. Everyone seems to think they know however.
You just need to read more, not just Neowin (no offence, but this is mainly pro-Microsoft site/community)
True. Microsoft has tons of patents, including ones on NTFS. Does the reverse-engineered NTFS module in Linux infringe? It certainly isn't a copy of code, so it isn't a copyright issue, but if the methods match Microsoft's patent(s), it could be a patent issue. Now, are the patents Microsoft holds valid? That would have to be legally tested, should Microsoft want to sue someone, then the patent would have to be gone over and validated by a court of law.
All Steve Ballmer is doing is making vague assertions at this point. He wants the cloud of uncertainty around Linux. He wants businesses to fear possible litigation from Microsoft, should they choose Linux. If he actually had some patents he wanted to address, he would have either demanded that they be removed from Linux, or would have initiated legal action on these.
He's got nothing but a step up in the rhetoric.
AKA Monkey Boy FUD
Plus, Microsoft hasn't filed suit against anyone. They entered into a deal with Novell (not a non-profit), and have plenty of businesses they can file suit against, if they like.
Last edited by Fred Derf on 20 Nov 2006 - 14:44
GUI != Windows Behavior. The Apple .vs Microsoft suit years ago killed that horse ten ways to Sunday. You'll have to dig this horse out of it's grave to beat it.
So what's happen with Mac?.. They will use BSP a UNIX system, very alike to Linux that is a clone of unix.
So what's happen with Mac?.. They will use BSP a UNIX system, very alike to Linux that is a clone of unix.
I assume english is not your mother tongue. Don't fret, it is not mine either.
But you probably meant BSD. Mac OS X uses a Mach microkernel with parts of FreeBSD, and the FreeBSD userland.
Are we to believe that Linux programmers can't make a better OS without the so called MS code? From what I've seen, they are a global, resourceful and determined group.
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