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Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 5:40 am Post subject: Microsoft/Novell - The Thin Wedge

This topic is for feedback and discussions on this article in LWD

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:33 am Post subject:

It's a strange dichotomy that Microsoft, which is an acknowledged monopoly is actually afraid of Linux.

And Linux, which is nothing like a monopoly has actually threatened their market share.

I can kind of understand why Microsoft sees a threat, but I'm a firm believer that nobody wins in this kind of warfare

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:17 am Post subject:

It would be interesting to see MS's reaction if the "indemnify one, indemnify all" clause gets in the GPL. If they tried to back out of the deal, would they have to return the SUSE licenses as they didn't agree to the EULA? It may put a kink in trying to enforce their own EULA after that.
Linux and FOSS are not companies. They are more of an idea that people contribute to. There are companies that sell and service Linux, but no one really owns it in it's entirety.
MS is used to fighting battles with companies. It might not be able to fight a battle with an idea.

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:46 am Post subject:

It seems like Microsoft has been thinking hard about how to attack the swarm. I don't think, personally, that they have thought hard enough. But the patent issue continues. I note that the [url=http://www.openinventionnetwork.com/press_release05_23_06.php]Open Invention Network{/url], among others, seems to have quite a few patents and is more than willing to use them. Microsoft has much more battle to fight than it thinks, and it's not as easy as attempting to pick one off from the herd. Nope, I agree, it's not as easy a fight as they're used to.

Then again, with as much money as Microsoft has, and the ability to literally laugh in the face of governments, I suppose they can attempt to do what they want. Nobody seems to really care enough to stop them.

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 12:42 pm Post subject:

Ernie Ball was forced to care enough. Wink

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 12:43 pm Post subject:

blahpony wrote:
Ernie Ball was forced to care enough.

yup, and I reference it in my article Wink

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 1:12 pm Post subject:

D'oh. I read the article, I didn't read all the links. Embarassed

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 8:57 pm Post subject:

Good article EdisonRex. I have tried not to think about the whole MS monopoly but the recent decision by Novell has opened my eyes. This just doesn't make sense to me.

Netware has always been a great product. I still think it is the best server OS out there. Why anyone switched to Windows from Netware is beyond me.

Now with Novell moving many of their Netware services to Linux, I am wondering if it is going to bite them in the ass.

Moderator Joined: 05 Dec 2000 Posts: 5941 Location: USA

Novell is already marketing this deal in the UK and Germany - must be nice now to have the money to do things like this - w Wink

f!

http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20061122092015450

Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 12:07 pm Post subject:

Ironic considering that software patents don't apply in the EU... !!!

Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 1:01 pm Post subject:

EdisonRex wrote:
Ironic considering that software patents don't apply in the EU... !!!

When have laws and reality ever stopped the M$ minons?

Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 6:10 pm Post subject:

"Microsoft answers IP questions posed in LXer open letter"

http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/76270/index.html

So we all heard Steve Ballmer claim that Linux uses IP owned by Microsoft. When asked to named exactly what IP was violated, they wouldn't talk. Until now. It's very much similar to "put up or shut up" SCO.

My favorite part of the above article:

Quote:
Why does Microsoft Corp. never specify which Intellectual Property Linux infringes on?

Quote:
...conducting a complete patent analyses for every version of every product is costly and complex...

You're sitting on billions of dollars and you can't even mention one damn example?

Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 6:29 pm Post subject:

Quote:
You're sitting on billions of dollars and you can't even mention one damn example?

Well, it is a really big haystack. Wink

Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 9:30 pm Post subject:

blahpony wrote:
Well, it is a really big haystack.

So? Grep it Razz

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 1:39 pm Post subject:

Lycander wrote:
blahpony wrote:
Well, it is a really big haystack.

So? Grep it

Too efficent