Three Scenarios For How Microsoft's Open Source Threat Could End

Vikingod · May 20, 2007, 03:50 PM

Source: InformationWeek
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Microsoft executives are escalating their open source rhetoric, asserting that 235 company patents are being infringed by the Linux operating system, OpenOffice desktop applications, and other open source code.

This time, Microsoft's remarks go well beyond an off-the-cuff comment from CEO Steve Ballmer. General counsel Brad Smith and his deputy for intellectual property and licensing, Horacio Gutierrez, made the assertions in an interview with Fortune magazine, then Microsoft followed up with press releases to underscore its point.

In November, Microsoft struck a two-way deal with Novell that protects Novell's customers from any potential patent claims by Microsoft while giving Microsoft customers patent protection from Novell. Microsoft has made clear since then that other Linux users, especially those of Red Hat, lack protection from any patent claims it might eventually make. Red Hat last week assured customers they could "deploy Red Hat with confidence."

May 20, 2007, 03:50 PM	#1
Vikingod Int'l Fish Liaison Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: By the light of lamp I sit and type... Posts: 16,197 Rep Power: 112 System Specs	Three Scenarios For How Microsoft's Open Source Threat Could End Source: InformationWeek ______________ Microsoft executives are escalating their open source rhetoric, asserting that 235 company patents are being infringed by the Linux operating system, OpenOffice desktop applications, and other open source code. This time, Microsoft's remarks go well beyond an off-the-cuff comment from CEO Steve Ballmer. General counsel Brad Smith and his deputy for intellectual property and licensing, Horacio Gutierrez, made the assertions in an interview with Fortune magazine, then Microsoft followed up with press releases to underscore its point. In November, Microsoft struck a two-way deal with Novell that protects Novell's customers from any potential patent claims by Microsoft while giving Microsoft customers patent protection from Novell. Microsoft has made clear since then that other Linux users, especially those of Red Hat, lack protection from any patent claims it might eventually make. Red Hat last week assured customers they could "deploy Red Hat with confidence."