http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,131806...ticle.html

I didn't know software could be patented...I thought it was copyrighted. Unless Torvalds and other Linux developers stole code verbatim from Microsoft, I don't see where they have any claim to royalties. I think some major cracks are developing in the Redmond castle.

Due to the incredibly flawed state of software patents in this country, virtually all software infringes upon patents. This very message board probably infringes several patents. Everything from drop down menus to the way a cursor moves across the screen of your desktop has been patented. Microsoft filed for over 3,000 in one year alone. The only thing that prevents all out war is that sides are balanced.

Microsoft
vs
IBM, Red Hat, Sun, etc ... particularly IBM, which has the largest patent portfolio of them all

This is why the Novell-Microsoft deal stunk so bad ... Novell has several networking related patents that can now no longer be used against Microsoft.

This is the same tired old FUD from Microsoft that started around 2003. We're just getting a fresh wave of it because Dell is now selling pre-installed Ubuntu, and several states are either considering or transitioning to ODF instead of the MS Office formats.

ZippyRulz Wrote:http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,131806...ticle.html

I didn't know software could be patented...I thought it was copyrighted. Unless Torvalds and other Linux developers stole code verbatim from Microsoft, I don't see where they have any claim to royalties. I think some major cracks are developing in the Redmond castle.

Quote:Microsoft's claims that it will ask distributors and users to pay royalties for up to 235 of its patents included in open-source software, including Linux,

Send me a bill, MS. Then hold your breath.