The 235 patents infringed by Free Software

by Francisco Costa May 16, 2007 7:22PM PDT

Sadly I've been reading all over that Microsoft claims that 235 patents are infringed by Free Open Source Software.
What's going to Microsoft next step, will they go and sue every Linux developer, well not on the EU, thanks god we at the EU don't care for software patents.
What's Microsoft fearing?
Maybe they're afraid of companies that give customers the chance to choose between Windows or Linux, the way Dell is doing.
What would be the future of software development if software patents were adopted everywhere?

Discussion is locked

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Probably fear

by welrdelr May 20, 2007 9:40PM PDT

Open source allows people to create and further develop software without restrictions.
Microsoft can easily face a company but a community? They are being ridiculous.
The corporation was exposed years ago for using BSD and linux applications in their servers and products. And, for those of you who don't know, tcp/ip was developed by the BSD group.
THere isn't any machine that runs Windows which doesn't use some implementation of open source somewhere. Ping, traceroute, etc. These are system tools Microsoft has adopted and not given credit to. Do you see a BSD or GPL license redaily viewablwe on a box with windows installed? Again, for those who do not know, these license should and are to be displayed where evry user is able to see it, such as in my documents.

The unices have a rich and diversified history. Creativity and originality have nothing to do with making a profit. Microsoft is a business and follows different business models. You make a product and create a demand for it. Americans are consumers and will granb at anything.

I use open source software and can do much more with it than Windows or any other proprietary software. When the program fails I look top see if the fault was mine thne I look for an answer.

Someone who has never used a unix-type system won't understand this, nor will they understand what friendly competition and community development really is.

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Set yourself free

by Francisco Costa May 21, 2007 12:02AM PDT

Microsoft biggest fear is for sure the Open Source. As you have already said they include lot of the Open Source creations in their software but they won't let anyone know that. Most of the times Microsoft takes credit for things they didn't created themselves or for things that they created but, don't work the way they are meant to.
If they claim that Open Source has infringed patents then where is the list of it? Have they published it?
Whats going to happen to Microsoft when GPLv3 is released?! Whats going to happen to their Novell agreement and to the coupons that Microsoft is redistributing?!

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Micro$oft home goal

by asininity May 21, 2007 5:37AM PDT

I said before else where that if M$ did actually win they still wouldn't be able to control it, the same as they can't control the illegal/pirated use of their software.

How ever it seems that M$ have shot themselves in the foot here:

http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/05/21/os_gpl3_indemnity/

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tha reality

by drudgetoiler May 21, 2007 11:08AM PDT

the fact is if M$ wasnt as big as it is now then Linus wouldnt even be an OS. in fact, what is linuz currently heading for: a easy user friendly OS whos ideas are coming from people who are former M$ gurus...

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The stupid Microsoft patents

by Francisco Costa May 21, 2007 6:51PM PDT

Hei drudgetoiler
Where did you get the idea that Linux is benefiting from former MS gurus?!

To realize how stupid Microsoft is go to the U.S Patents site http://patft.uspto.gov and search for patent number 6727830, you'll find out that Microsoft has patented double click. WOW! amazing they invented double click! Give me a break please, I remember that some old radios, tape recorders and VCR had double click... That patent makes me laugh!

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Linux benefiting from M$, I shouldn't think so

by asininity May 21, 2007 8:50PM PDT

drudgetoiler - Look at the history. M$ stole their first OS from a unlucky chappy that saw no royalties and has since then stolen everyone else's ideas, for example, the early Xerox windows system which Xerox invented and which M$ copied via Apple, which M$ then laughably tried to sue them for.

M$ has been behind Open Source for years, you only have the look a compiz which laughs a aero glass, come on man see sense.

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MS is the one trying to learn something from Open Source

by Francisco Costa May 21, 2007 11:53PM PDT

That's the reality, MS is the one trying to learn something from Open Source. MS even invested on a Open Source lab where they do test Open Source O.S. Read this interview with Bill Hilf: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2005/aug05/08-10OpenSourceLab.mspx
and you'll find that MS was really worried about the Open Source by 2005, worried enough to invest in an Open Source lab.
What's been killing MS is the fact Open Source technologies can't be bought has they use to do with other technological creations, and they don't even understand very well how to make money out of something that is Open to everyone.
MS is heading into two directions, first is the FUD campaign(Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) where they claim that Open Source violates 235 patents (don't forget - software patents aren't valid in Europe), the other direction is to study and if possible make agreements with corporations that deal with Open Source, like Novell.
Its a battle fought in two directions and most of the times using dirty tactics.

The 235 patents infringed by Free Software

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