Microsoft Files Suit: Linux Violates Our Patents

Solution: Headline "Microsoft Sues Linux", add picture of Steve Ballmer looking mean. Sprinkle with spelling mistakes and "no word yet" unprofessionalisms. Lame.

Re: Microsoft Files Suit: Linux Violates Our Patents

#5

Post by wheels » Thu, Feb 26, 2009, 12:30 AM UTC

This probably isn't over any system components since Microsoft is of course aware of the Open Innovation Network which has a patent portfolio specifically for defensive use in case there is an attempt for any company to sue another company for usage of base system components (which goes all the way up to the desktop, excluding media codecs).

http://www.openinventionnetwork.com/

Re: Microsoft Files Suit: Linux Violates Our Patents

#6

Post by jrockway » Thu, Feb 26, 2009, 1:23 AM UTC

If this actually poses a threat to Linux, you can bet IBM (and Google) are going to be taking Microsoft to court over their patents that Microsoft probably infringes on.

Software patents are like nuclear weapons. You bring them out, and everyone loses.

Re: Microsoft Files Suit: Linux Violates Our Patents

#7

Post by eli » Thu, Feb 26, 2009, 1:31 AM UTC

cosmo7 wrote: post #4

Situation: Microsoft is in court with a GPS company over some patents. Problem: News story is boring. Solution: Headline "Microsoft Sues Linux", add picture of Steve Ballmer looking mean. Sprinkle with spelling mistakes and "no word yet" unprofessionalisms. Lame.

From the source blog post:

Asked if this TomTom case is the start of a broader legal campaign over those alleged violations, Gutierrez said no.

"Microsoft respects and appreciates the important role that open-source software plays in our industry and we respect and appreciate the passion and the great contribution that open-source developers make in our industry," Gutierrez said. He said that respect and appreciation is "not inconsistent with our respect for intellectual-property rights."

Re: Microsoft Files Suit: Linux Violates Our Patents

#8

Post by spot » Thu, Feb 26, 2009, 2:31 AM UTC

cosmo7 wrote: post #4

Situation: Microsoft is in court with a GPS company over some patents. Problem: News story is boring. Solution: Headline "Microsoft Sues Linux", add picture of Steve Ballmer looking mean. Sprinkle with spelling mistakes and "no word yet" unprofessionalisms. Lame.

the lawsuit includes the patent on long filenames in the fat32 filesystem. this is a big deal.

Re: Microsoft Files Suit: Linux Violates Our Patents

#9

Post by vaksel » Thu, Feb 26, 2009, 2:42 AM UTC

cosmo7 wrote: post #4

Situation: Microsoft is in court with a GPS company over some patents. Problem: News story is boring. Solution: Headline "Microsoft Sues Linux", add picture of Steve Ballmer looking mean. Sprinkle with spelling mistakes and "no word yet" unprofessionalisms. Lame.

welcome to the blogosphere

Re: Microsoft Files Suit: Linux Violates Our Patents

#10

Post by ygcfububyuf » Thu, Feb 26, 2009, 3:40 AM UTC

wmf wrote: post #3

[deleted] wrote: post #2

[deleted]

Did anyone read the article? You didn't. Microsoft is suing TomTom. (Sorry pg, I couldn't resist the put-down.) Here are the patents: http://www.pat2pdf.org/pat2pdf/foo.pl?number=6,175,789 http://www.pat2pdf.org/pat2pdf/foo.pl?number=7,054,745 http://www.pat2pdf.org/pat2pdf/foo.pl?number=6,704,032 http://www.pat2pdf.org/pat2pdf/foo.pl?number=7,117,286 http://www.pat2pdf.org/pat2pdf/foo.pl?number=6,202,008 http://www.…

Specifically they are sueing over the support of8.3 versions of long filenames. Presumably the sd card in the tomtom uses FAT