M$ declares WAR....

[dbarrow]

GPLv3 the impetus for Microsoft’s latest Linux attack campaign
http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=437
With one stroke, Microsoft has ended any illusion that it planned to try to build bridges with the open-source community. And it appears the primary reason for Microsoft's decision to go back on the public attack against Linux and other open-source software is the looming Version 3 of the Free Software Foundation's General Public License (GPL).

In a newly published interview with Fortune magazine, Microsoft licensing officials go on the record claiming that the company believes free and open-source software infringes on 235 of Microsoft's patents. At the same time, Bill Hilf, Microsoft director of platform strategy — and the company's main liaision to the open-source community — was quoted on a tour in Southeast Asia as saying that "the Free Software movement is dead," and "Linux doesn't exist in 2007." ...

Report: Microsoft says open source violates 235 patents
http://news.com.com/Report+Microsoft+says+open+source+violates+235+pat ents/2100-1014_3-6183437.html?tag=nefd.top
In an interview with Fortune, Microsoft top lawyer Brad Smith alleges that the Linux kernel violates 42 Microsoft patents, while its user interface and other design elements infringe on a further 65. OpenOffice.org is accused of infringing 45, along with 83 more in other free and open-source programs, according to Fortune.

It is not entirely clear how Microsoft might proceed in enforcing these patents, but the company has been encouraging large tech companies that depend on Linux to ink patent deals, starting with its controversial pact with Novell last November. Microsoft has also cited Linux protection playing a role in recent patent swap deals with Samsung and Fuji Xerox. Microsoft has also had discussions but not reached a deal with Red Hat, as noted in the Fortune article. ...

[Phelyx]

How many ideas has Microsoft stolen from open-source through the years? BTW Ubuntu FTW

[Terry Hanushek]

Phelyx

Phelyx asked: How many ideas has Microsoft stolen from open-source through the years? BTW Ubuntu FTW
Answer from C/Net: The story notes that some big tech proponents of open source have been stockpiling intellectual property as part of the Open Invention Network (http://news.com.com/Oracle+bands+with+open-source+patent+group/2100-7344_3-6170717.html), set up in 2005 by folks like Sony, Red Hat, IBM, NEC and Philips. The article surmises that if Microsoft were to go after open source, these companies' combined know-how might give it some patent weapons to go after Windows.
I'm not sure how many patents are involved but I suspect that it approaches the MAD (mutually assured destruction) of the US-Russia Cold War.

Also from C/Net: Given how deeply entrenched open-source software has become in the computing industry, taking direct legal action against the open-source realm would be a complicated, hackle-raising undertaking for Microsoft. Customers use open-source software widely, and many major computing companies--IBM, Dell, Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard, Motorola and Oracle, for example--support Linux work directly.
It is doubtful that anybody could survive that battle (except the regiments of lawyers litigating the cases :mad: ).

Doug

Overall, a very interesting and informative article.

Thanks for sharing

Terry

[PeteF]

In a newly published interview with Fortune magazine, Microsoft licensing officials go on the record claiming that the company believes free and open-source software infringes on 235 of Microsoft's patents. At the same time, Bill Hilf, Microsoft director of platform strategy — and the company's main liaision to the open-source community — was quoted on a tour in Southeast Asia as saying that "the Free Software movement is dead," and "Linux doesn't exist in 2007." ...

Report: Microsoft says open source violates 235 patents


These are some interesting facts about how many possible patent
infringements are involved. This tells me that if any Linux distro or
any similar open source application became a real threat to MS,
the lawsuits that resulted would tie up things in court for years
and stop any competitor dead in their tracks. Whether MS is
right or wrong about their patents, it won't matter.

---pete---

[Tortanick]

Pete, if that was true, than the Open Invention Network counterstrike would stop microsoft dead in its tracks. Therefor Microsoft would not dare to launch the first strike, MAD indeede.

What's more, since Microsoft is One Company based in the US if the courts tell them to freeze untill the lawsuit is over then all Microsoft freezes, FLOSS has a very diffrent story, few FLOSS developers are on the payroll, and a good portion of those who are get paid to do FLOSS work by an unrelated company, (http://lwn.net/Articles/222773/)if the courts tried to shut down every FLOSS development server in the US and freeze every FLOSS developer in the US, some non-us developer on whatever project can just start a new server in another country (http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page11077.asp) and work goes on, there is no single company that can be targeted.


The alternative theory, that Microsoft possessing greater legal mussle than FLOSS will stop FLOSS while carrying on will not happen, Microsoft vs IBM is even matched or perhaps in IBMs favour. Microsoft vs IBM, Sony, Red Hat, Novell, Phillps, NEC. Ouch for Microsoft.



It is doubtful that anybody could survive that battle (except the regiments of lawyers litigating the cases :mad: ).
Or the majority of the FLOSS world that is outside the US, where those patents are not recongised.

Still I expect this is just (http://www.linux-watch.com/news/NS6670466370.html) hot air, (http://www.linuxjournal.com/node/1000221) it was the last several times microsoft made vague patent threats

Hmm, Where's Jcampi? This is just the thread I'd expect to find him on.

[dbarrow]

Torvalds and Moglen agree: MS patent claims are 'FUD'
http://www.linux.com/article.pl?sid=07/05/15/1455258

[PeteF]

FUD

DEFINITION - FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) is the term for any strategy intended to make a company's customers insecure about future product plans with the purpose of discouraging them from adopting competitors' products. For example, "You can try using X instead of our product, but you may lose all your data."

[Tortanick]

Its also used as a generic insult against anyone critisiseing Linux or other important FLOSS programs (e.g. firefox), but in this case its genuine FUD.

[dbarrow]

Microsoft won’t litigate open source patents
http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/32106/118/

Redmond (WA) - Microsoft officials are clarifying statements made regarding the number of patents supposedly violated by open source operating systems. Recently company officials have said that 235 of Microsoft’s patents are being potentially breached by operating systems such as Linux. Now Microsoft’s General Manager of Platform Strategy Bill Hilf says the company doesn’t have any plans on litigation. ...

*War over! Sabers rattled and the opposition stood up to be counted. Retreat looks like the best option.

[Tortanick]

It looks like Microsoft never shifted its old policy of charging for these patents rather than litigating, and just sabre rattled for the media, how unsurprising.

[qldit]

Good Evening Gentlemen, so far as I am concerned MS should have embraced Linux rather than buck it, they can't possibly win against the turning tide, progress has a habit of turning into a steamroller against monopolisation, and Linux is an entire global system, and has millions of proponents developing it.
It is a sleeping giant and any MS disturbance only generates more problems for MS.

I feel they are missing the boat!

They have had a good run and should stop while they are in front, once the Chinese systems begin to become more entrenched it will really alter the playing field.

Gates has been involved with globalisation situations for years, it is hippocritical for him to buck when true globalisation begins to evolve, and that really involves Linux.

He missed the chance with the "One Comuter Per Child" movement which moved to Linix, this was pretty ridiculous and will eventually sting Windows as more Linux users and proffessionals develop in the future.

Cheers, qldit.