Editors' Picks: Is Linux at risk from a Microsoft patent blitz?
Forget the SCO Group. Consider the possibility of Microsoft using its arsenal of patents to curb the open-source software.
Editors' Picks
Is Linux at risk from a Microsoft patent blitz?
Editors' picks
Open-source advocates have long warned that lax patent oversight could eventually pose a major problem for the technology.
Now some believe that their fears are about to become reality. Is the threat genuine or merely hyped? Tell us what you think.
August 4, 2004
The evidence
Bill Gates
- eWeek Linux Companies Address IP Concerns
- InfoWorld Munich's Linux roll-out halted
- CNET News.com Group: Linux potentially infringes 283 patents
- NewsForge HP memo forecasts MS patent attacks on free software
- The Public Patent Foundation PUBPAT Announces Microsoft Patent Watch
- Open Source Risk Management Mitigating Linux Patent Risk (PDF file)
- CNET News.com Gates wants patent power
- Microsoft Intellectual Property Licensing
Rise of Linux
Linus Torvalds
- CNET News.com HP offers Linux-based laptop
- CNET News.com Linux fervor on display at trade show
- TechTarget Linux jobs on the rise, so do your homework
- Sun Microsystems' Jonathan Schwartz IBM is in a Pickle (Again)
- Internetnews.com Hidden Costs Said to Stymie Linux Growth
- InfoWorld Gartner: Rapid Linux growth boosts server market
- TechWeb Ballmer: Linux Is Top Threat To Windows
Other threats
Darl McBride
- InfoWorld SCO CEO: No need to sue more customers
- CNET News.com Linux, digital rights on collision course
- Ecommerce Times Red Hat Refocuses Sales Model
- Microsoft Watch Microsoft Hints of Future Programs to Stave Off Linux Overseas
Open source and patents
Beyond Microsoft and Linux, open-source programmers everywhere face complications from patents, both valid and invalid. Flaws in the patent system in the United States and elsewhere are blamed for inflating the value of worthless patents, undermining open-source efforts across the board.- The Register Patents and the threat to open source
- CNET News.com Will patents pillage open source?
- NewsForge Patents in an open source world
- The Inquirer IBM patents method for paying open source volunteers
- CNET News.com IBM pledges no patent attacks against Linux
- Salon Patents are your friends
- Bruce Perens An open-source call to arms
Audio and Video
LinuxWorld 2004 conference attendees sound off
As Linux makes its move in the big-business arena, the open-source community faces growing pains. Correspondent James Hilliard asks conference-goers at LinuxWorld 2004 in San Francisco for their thoughts on the transition and how it is affecting the development of the open-source landscape.
Preview: LinuxWorld 2004
News.com's Stephen Shankland sits down with correspondent James Hilliard to look at some of the issues and news expected at this year's LinuxWorld gathering in San Francisco.
Global open-source community continues to thrive
At LinuxWorld 2004 in San Francisco, Red Hat CEO Matthew Szulik looks at the challenges Linux has faced over the last 10 years and the progress it's made, announces new Red Hat application server software for running Java programs, and calls for reform of intellectual-property law in the United States.
Solaris better than Linux?
Sun Microsystems' new executive vice president of software, John Loiacono, embraces Linux but has more love for Solaris. Hear what he has to say about both operating systems and how they are living together at Sun.
Szulik says Red Hat won't abuse its clout
As developers gather for LinuxWorld, Red Hat CEO Matthew Szulik sits down for a Face to Face interview with ZDNet Editor in Chief Dan Farber and CNET News.com reporter Stephen Shankland. Szulik denies that Red Hat's aim is to be the Microsoft of open source--whose community, he says, is alive and well.
Time to think differently about open source?
During his keynote address to the O'Reilly Open Source Convention 2004, media maven Tim O'Reilly discussed some of the top issues shaping open-source development. He noted a paradigm shift taking place and said the community needs to shift its approach and thoughts about what open source truly is.
Ballmer questions open-source code security
At Gartner's Symposium/ITxpo in Orlando, Fla., Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer disputes the idea that open-source code is easier to secure than that of Windows.
SuSE's Seibt: "It's getting hot now"
In an exclusive Face to Face interview with ZDNet Editor in Chief Dan Farber, SuSE Linux chief Richard Seibt talks about the impact of SCO's legal maneuvering, competition with Microsoft and the two-horse race with Red Hat to blaze the open-source trail from servers to desktops.
Editors' Picks
Is Linux at risk from a Microsoft patent blitz?
Editors' picks
Open-source advocates have long warned that lax patent oversight could eventually pose a major problem for the technology.
Now some believe that their fears are about to become reality. Is the threat genuine or merely hyped? Tell us what you think.
August 4, 2004
The evidence
Bill Gates
- eWeek Linux Companies Address IP Concerns
- InfoWorld Munich's Linux roll-out halted
- CNET News.com Group: Linux potentially infringes 283 patents
- NewsForge HP memo forecasts MS patent attacks on free software
- The Public Patent Foundation PUBPAT Announces Microsoft Patent Watch
- Open Source Risk Management Mitigating Linux Patent Risk (PDF file)
- CNET News.com Gates wants patent power
- Microsoft Intellectual Property Licensing
Rise of Linux
Linus Torvalds
- CNET News.com HP offers Linux-based laptop
- CNET News.com Linux fervor on display at trade show
- TechTarget Linux jobs on the rise, so do your homework
- Sun Microsystems' Jonathan Schwartz IBM is in a Pickle (Again)
- Internetnews.com Hidden Costs Said to Stymie Linux Growth
- InfoWorld Gartner: Rapid Linux growth boosts server market
- TechWeb Ballmer: Linux Is Top Threat To Windows
Other threats
Darl McBride
- InfoWorld SCO CEO: No need to sue more customers
- CNET News.com Linux, digital rights on collision course
- Ecommerce Times Red Hat Refocuses Sales Model
- Microsoft Watch Microsoft Hints of Future Programs to Stave Off Linux Overseas
Open source and patents
Beyond Microsoft and Linux, open-source programmers everywhere face complications from patents, both valid and invalid. Flaws in the patent system in the United States and elsewhere are blamed for inflating the value of worthless patents, undermining open-source efforts across the board.- The Register Patents and the threat to open source
- CNET News.com Will patents pillage open source?
- NewsForge Patents in an open source world
- The Inquirer IBM patents method for paying open source volunteers
- CNET News.com IBM pledges no patent attacks against Linux
- Salon Patents are your friends
- Bruce Perens An open-source call to arms
Audio and Video
LinuxWorld 2004 conference attendees sound off
As Linux makes its move in the big-business arena, the open-source community faces growing pains. Correspondent James Hilliard asks conference-goers at LinuxWorld 2004 in San Francisco for their thoughts on the transition and how it is affecting the development of the open-source landscape.
Preview: LinuxWorld 2004
News.com's Stephen Shankland sits down with correspondent James Hilliard to look at some of the issues and news expected at this year's LinuxWorld gathering in San Francisco.
Global open-source community continues to thrive
At LinuxWorld 2004 in San Francisco, Red Hat CEO Matthew Szulik looks at the challenges Linux has faced over the last 10 years and the progress it's made, announces new Red Hat application server software for running Java programs, and calls for reform of intellectual-property law in the United States.
Solaris better than Linux?
Sun Microsystems' new executive vice president of software, John Loiacono, embraces Linux but has more love for Solaris. Hear what he has to say about both operating systems and how they are living together at Sun.
Szulik says Red Hat won't abuse its clout
As developers gather for LinuxWorld, Red Hat CEO Matthew Szulik sits down for a Face to Face interview with ZDNet Editor in Chief Dan Farber and CNET News.com reporter Stephen Shankland. Szulik denies that Red Hat's aim is to be the Microsoft of open source--whose community, he says, is alive and well.
Time to think differently about open source?
During his keynote address to the O'Reilly Open Source Convention 2004, media maven Tim O'Reilly discussed some of the top issues shaping open-source development. He noted a paradigm shift taking place and said the community needs to shift its approach and thoughts about what open source truly is.
Ballmer questions open-source code security
At Gartner's Symposium/ITxpo in Orlando, Fla., Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer disputes the idea that open-source code is easier to secure than that of Windows.
SuSE's Seibt: "It's getting hot now"
In an exclusive Face to Face interview with ZDNet Editor in Chief Dan Farber, SuSE Linux chief Richard Seibt talks about the impact of SCO's legal maneuvering, competition with Microsoft and the two-horse race with Red Hat to blaze the open-source trail from servers to desktops.