Microsoft claims that Linux infringers 235 patents

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Steven M. Bellovin" <smb () cs columbia edu>
Date: May 14, 2007 3:25:25 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Microsoft claims that Linux infringers 235 patents

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/ 
2007/05/28/100033867/index.htm?section=money_latest

Mind you, they won't say which patents are infringed, or by what code,
or what they plan to do.  But they say that the Linux kernel infringes
42 patents, the GUI(s) infringe 65, OpenOffice infringes 45, email
infringes 15, and others infringe 68.

It's interesting reading, especially the discussion of whom Microsoft
can go after, their deal with Novell, etc.  It also discusses the Free
Software Foundation's counter-strategy.

The article also contains a very good summary of some of the
ideological and practical issues surrounding the GPL and Stallman.  (It
notes that Stallman himself wasn't interviewed because of some of the
conditions he insists on, such as that "GNU/Linux" be used as the sole
term for that class of systems.)


                --Steve Bellovin, http://www.cs.columbia.edu/~smb


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