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- shrewduser, on 10/11/2007, -6/+165"Folks, the ***** has hit the fan. Beware of the nuclear fallout."
if the ***** has hit the fan, shouldn't we beware of..... well.... *****? - darkamex, on 10/11/2007, -12/+171The Empire of Evil is moving again...
Could Google (don't be evil) be with us... - diggapleaze, on 10/11/2007, -5/+113I really really hope IBM ***** them to hell on this. The cold war is over and the warheads have left the silos.
Now let's see how many patents Microsoft is violating. - Beevo, on 10/11/2007, -3/+91"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win" - Ghandi
- atdigg, on 10/11/2007, -7/+94Patents and copyright are different things, don't confuse them. If Linux would be accused of copyright infringement developers would be able to remove the offending code in 2 minutes, with patents is more complicated because if Microsoft decides to exercise its ridiculous patents: (something like 20 patents regarding moving the mouse cursor on the desktop) then Linux developers don't have alternatives...
Software patents are by default ridiculous, they should not exist. Obvious software patents (think 1-click and isNot() patents) and are plain criminal. - LordBen, on 10/11/2007, -30/+105I personally find the copy-write law of this country ridiculous... It gives out patents on far too general things and in software in particular there are only so many ways you can do something. MS is claiming they own this stuff, but i am willing to bet most of the things they're claiming they have copy write to was in Linux long before it was copyrighted by windows. I really think the Linux users should sue microsoft over their copy write violations... see how MS does when it has thousands of lawsuits against it for copy write infringement over things they stole from Linux... well not really stole probably invented independently, but if they're going to be jerks over that stuff to Linux then Linux should be jerks right back to them and sue them over the same type of ridiculous patents... maybe when all the OS's of the world are about to be shut down over copy write infringement people will realize that this must stop and loosen up the standards and copy write reform will finally happen.
- diggapleaze, on 10/11/2007, -6/+79Folks, the ***** has hit the fan. Beware of the nuclear fallout.
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -11/+80I wouldnt be the slightest bit worried.
Microsoft have said this same stuff in the past, yet they always fail to provided which patents and where in the linux code it goes wrong.
***** MICROSOFT.... and the RIAA - atdigg, on 10/11/2007, -8/+65I imagine that poor reception of Vista determined Microsoft to exercise their FUD spreading mechanism... that's also the best sign Linux is doing great!
- karamba_kid, on 10/11/2007, -1/+57Source code or it didn't happen.
- schestowitz, on 10/11/2007, -6/+62,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft refuses to state which particular patents are infringed
| in an attempt to avoid retaliation from FOSS advocates. However,
| the statements certainly put Linux and its users under a dark
| cloud -- potentially sufficient for a declaratory judgment action
| under MedImmune v. Genentech (2006).
`----
http://www.patentlyo.com/patent/2007/05/microsoft_foss_.html
Novell, you bitch.
http://www.techworld.com/opsys/news/index.cfm?newsID=8771&pagtype=all
'In mid-November, shortly after the pact was announced, Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer said companies that sell or run Linux, but aren’t covered under the Novell deal, are illegally using Microsoft’s IP. "We believe every Linux customer basically has an undisclosed balance-sheet liability," he said.
He said in a later meeting: "I do think it clearly establishes that open source is not free." - Simkin, on 10/11/2007, -4/+57Software patents are terrible. You shouldn't be able to patent an idea.
But regardless, shouldn't they list 235 Patents that they claim are being violated so we can stop using them if we feel there are moral reasons not to use them?
I wonder if this will make the list: http://ubuntulinuxtipstricks.blogspot.com/2007/05/did-microsoft-just-patent-sudo.html - SlvrEagle23, on 10/11/2007, -15/+66Did you just say "pursue legal action against Linux USERS"?!
Oh, hell no Microsoft. If you so much as attempt it I swear next year your licensing revenues will plummet. I've been looking for a long time for a good reason to prove I don't need you or your products, and this would be a fine one.
In the spirit of capitalism, I would suggest you stay out of this one and stick with trying to make your own software better. If you can't do that, then just stick with the XBox 360. This is *really* not a battle you want to start. - Salgat, on 10/11/2007, -4/+49Bring it on damnit.
(programmers have been dying to recode all these supposed patent infringements for some time) - neocon4u, on 10/11/2007, -2/+43I can eliminate all Microsoft products from my company in 2 weeks. We've already looked at what would be required. I'm gutting us of MSFT the day they sue an open-source software provider I rely on. Try me.
- MasterQ, on 10/11/2007, -6/+45too bad Xerox couldn't pwn microsoft (and apple) for all the ***** they stole....
- roomforpanic, on 10/11/2007, -5/+44I do realize how irrational and one-sided this sounds, but words cannot describe how much I despise Microsoft and their products. Every time I sit down to use Windows, I'm reminded how much I hate it.
- Fredx, on 10/11/2007, -22/+58Anyone ever tried vista ? It's the buggiest, slowest and most expensive POS ive ever used.... I want to use new cutting edge software without the crap so im forced to use linux.
- Al3x, on 10/11/2007, -25/+60@LordBen
Your excessive use of "Copy write" instead of "copyright" just made me ignore your whole argument...I'd guess your age at around 15. - schestowitz, on 10/11/2007, -1/+36Don't forget Oracle. It joined OIN recently, along with other companies.
- Helfax, on 10/11/2007, -2/+37Microsoft: Finding new ways to piss off customers on a daily basis.(TM)
- Aeaus, on 10/11/2007, -3/+37Microsofts strategy is simply that of frightening the next group of people that might be tempted to move to Linux. You could imagine the uneducated public thinking "oh, Linux is a Hacker Tool, it violated over two hundred patents." Likewise MS could attack the small distros and users in hope of driving them out of business. It's a last ditch effort that probably won't work if big Linux users step up for the good of the entire community.
- skoober, on 10/11/2007, -0/+33Direct link to article
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/05/28/100033867/ - Derrekito, on 10/11/2007, -3/+34@shrewduser (#6667470) said: ""Folks, the ***** has hit the fan. Beware of the nuclear fallout."
if the ***** has hit the fan, shouldn't we beware of..... well.... *****?"
Collateral damage is gonna be messy... - AlanCayce, on 10/11/2007, -7/+38Linux is free...
Can someone explain to me how they can be sued?
I don´t get it :( - inactive, on 10/11/2007, -5/+36THIS..... IS.... LINUX !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*kicks Gates in the chest, into a crowd of paparazzi* - strangewill, on 10/11/2007, -5/+34@salgat:
I have a feeling programmers aren't dying to re-program major parts of Linux.
Anyway, IIRC Microsoft even uses Linux in it's labs, whats the big deal Microsoft? YOU use Linux too. :P - Hoov, on 10/11/2007, -0/+28I'm just tired of patents that are as vague as "push button, something happens."
- Sabot, on 10/11/2007, -3/+31Microsoft you are an evil empire that will some day be looked back on as the dark ages of computing. I look forward to the era of the enlightenment.
- aywwts4, on 10/11/2007, -2/+28If they actually try this I think it will be the straw that breaks the monopolist's back, Nothing looks better than an underdog, fighting against a giant corporate oppressor, scores of these patents will be completely frivolous (if not all of them) Suave linux advocates will get on the media arguing against those patents just to show how silly the whole thing is, mention how linux is working to be totally free, and help children in Africa, and be used in school free of cost, and then end the question, is it time for federal investigators to look into breaking up this monopoly?
If the linux community played it's cards properly, they could use this as easy fodder against Microsoft. - HalFTW, on 10/11/2007, -14/+39Vista is for noobs.
- assholepundit, on 10/11/2007, -0/+25They're just doing this this because their own bulllying failed to stop Dell from offering Ubuntu. Now they're hoping this "impending doom" scenario will scare Dell shareholders into forcing Dell not to go down the Ubuntu path until these "legal issues" are resolved. No lawsuits will ever come, because it's a total bluff. That's why M$ issued a press release and not an acutal lawsuit.
Yawn... - locnguyen, on 10/11/2007, -4/+29I hope the other big software companies go ape ***** on MS.
- dono169, on 10/11/2007, -3/+27I don't think they were waiting for this.
I think they wanted to avoid desktop Linux from ever getting to this point. - hanexar, on 10/11/2007, -2/+26I think I'll patent stupidity and I'll prevent Microsoft from using it.
Sorry this kind of news really upset, I can't believe how they hinder improvement fighting dirty war instead of making their programs better. It feels like they just agreed that they can't come out with something worth paying for, so they take the cheap way of fighting.
The FOSS movement will now have to fight legal war instead of programming good software. I'll hate microsoft for a long time for doing this. - popothebright, on 10/11/2007, -3/+26@randeepjalilio
Thanks for making me feel like one of the world's lesser geeks. - inactive, on 10/11/2007, -3/+26M$ hasn't worried about this before, it sounds to many like many people are switching away. They see more and more people using linux. Screw them, i will run what ever os i want on my pc, legal or not.
- inactive, on 10/11/2007, -2/+24"Every time I sit down to use Windows, I'm reminded how much I hate it."
then don't. lots of alternatives out there, you know: http://distrowatch.com/ - wootmacs, on 10/11/2007, -1/+23So, basically Microsoft has it's panties in a bunch, since Linux got popular.
- babar77, on 10/11/2007, -0/+21@macgyber
I wouldn't go jumping to such conclusions. My best friend is a patent attorney for the largest law firm in Chicago. He always says patents aren't worth the paper they're written on until tested in court. He invalidates patents all the time.
People seem to jump to conclusions about what is and isn't breaking the law. They either don't know or don't remember that new laws (like the DCMA) need to be tested in court before everything is all said and done. The RIAA is recently finding that the tactics they use aren't always right, that they can't just go suing anyone. They tried to get the courts to uphold that you are absolutely responsible for everything that happens on your IP address, however in recent cases the courts said you aren't. And soon we might find out that if they wrongfully sue you, they might have to pay your legal expenses.
Always remember, the attorneys for MS, the RIAA, and the MPAA are not looking for justice. They are paid to protect their clients interpretations of the laws and their client's interests - not yours - and you can bet they are always bending the laws in their favor. Judges are the final answer on the proper interpretations of law, not lawyers. So you can't always assume what the lawyers say is right, unless they can back it up with a ruling by a judge on a very similar to exact same case. - 21chrisp, on 10/11/2007, -0/+21@chingy1788
That's because an OS that may have been good for general desktops in 1998 isn't necessarily good now. People just use it because that's what they know. A LOT of people are switching to Mac, and Linux continues to see slow but steady growth on the desktop.
Otherwise...
Patent attacks are generally a sign of desperation. If Microsoft were to launch an offensive like that, it would be done because they don't think they can compete long term. I imagine they would be about as successful as SCO. Just about all of the patents would have prior art. MS has innovated very little, so few of their patents would hold up in court. - gmillerd, on 10/11/2007, -4/+25I hope they push so hard with their stupidity and make the GPL invalid forcing the rights revert back to the authors, suddenly microsoft will be networking with serial cables with all their fancy protocols.
- mlopes, on 10/11/2007, -2/+22I do hope IBM, Sun, Oracle, Redhat and, perhaps, Google sue Microsoft into oblivion.
- TylerLavite, on 10/11/2007, -3/+23what ever happened to "show us the code" its way past May 1st, and microsoft has not said one word about it.. www.showusthecode.com
- OBKenobi, on 10/11/2007, -0/+20[quote]Linux is free...
Can someone explain to me how they can be sued?
I don´t get it :([/quote]
The answer to your question is that Steve Ballmer is a loud-mouthed thug with no class, who spreads FUD because Microsoft is incapable of competing fairly.
All those billions of dollars and they still ***** up Vista. - quarando, on 10/11/2007, -0/+20> "We believe every Linux customer basically has an undisclosed balance-sheet liability,"
As far as I am concerned, Microsoft has been in violation of US an international anti-competitive laws for years now and has an undisclosed balance-sheet owed to every citizen of every country where it does business. - cantormath, on 10/11/2007, -2/+21Watch how much we care........oh.....oh we are caring......oh...............nope still dont care what they say.
- Helfax, on 10/11/2007, -1/+20So going the back door route with SCO didn't work.. Now they try it out in the open? Good luck with that MS.
- obliviousfool, on 10/11/2007, -1/+19Three things.
#1. Microsoft has overstayed its welcome.
#2. How do you pin down exactly WHO is supposedly violating these patents? Linux is not the product of a single entity. How do you go about chasing down the origins of certain bits of code and so on?
#3. Anything that makes Microsoft worry so much makes me feel encouraged.
- PopcornDave, on 10/11/2007, -2/+20And then Xerox can sue Apple...
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