engadget.com — Since the Linux community has now launched Show Us the Code; The grassroots organization challenges Ballmer to bring it on: if Microsoft forks over the evidence by May 1st, Linux developers will alter their code accordingly to maintain freeware status.
Feb 26, 2007 View in Crawl 4
kolop1Feb 26, 2007
Linux is what, 1% of he market? Why would Ballmer care that 1% of the market calls him out.
msgyrdFeb 26, 2007
Accepting this challenge is a lose-lose situation for MS. If they have valid proof that linux infringes on their patents or IP, then that code gets replaced, destroying any legal threats to use as propaganda against linux. Linux gets improved. MS has to disclose some of their source, and in the end, MS loses an argument to use.If they're lying out of their ass (Ballmer is obviously their ass), linux is proven to be right and trustworthy all along, MS loses a propaganda device, hurts their company image (more than it already is), and every future argument/FUD/propaganda MS uses will be compared to this example.Honestly? I think they will officially have 'no comment' on this challenge. It was a stupid thing to claim in the first place. If anything was violating their patents or intellectual property, they should have brought it to court when they were made aware of it. Claiming linux is stealing their property and never proving it makes them look stupid and in the long run, has the reverse effect of it's intentions (see the SCO vs. IBM case).
demonotakuFeb 26, 2007
And babies. Can't forget the babies.
tizz66Feb 26, 2007
The irony is, if Microsoft actually bit and accepted the challenge, drew up a list of infringements, somehow took Linux to court and won, all the fanboys posting here would say "OMG MONOPLY!!!! M$ SUX!", rather than "well, we asked for it, good game". Can all the fanboys posting here KNOW that no infringements have been made? Probably not unless you've scoured the code. Don't get on your high horse, because it may well come back and smack you hard in the face.
Closed AccountFeb 27, 2007
I'm sure he's shaking in his boots/sarcasm
ddukFeb 27, 2007
Hey, I like linux and everything, been using it on and off now for about 4 years, but to me, this website is poorly worded and just, 'angry' in a very wordy and childish way. Frankly, it's just not the right attitude to take if you want a mega corp with an army of lawyers like MS to respond, they are either gonna ignore it, or pay some bloggers to belittle it. I would agree to any suggestion that they are waiting for linux to grow before they target their IP tomahawks, but this is not the right way to do it. It just sounds like an angry kid is representing the entire linux community.
Closed AccountFeb 27, 2007
and throws patents in meetings!
xilonFeb 28, 2007
"I want you to do me a favor. Look at your keyboard. Go ahead, it won't bite.Now look at the key between 'T' and 'U'.That key is your friend."Which one? There's F, G, D and H... sorry, I use a Dvorak keyboard ;)
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