Linux Foundation ready to fight Microsoft if TomTom lawsuit involves Linux kernel

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A mixed barrel of fish.

There are so many threads in this mess that one can look at almost anything. But some things come out loud and clear:

1. We are in a post-Bilski situation......software patents (which seem to be at the heart of this suit) have lost most of their hitting power:

http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20090226070041454

2. The FAT/VFAT patents which seem to be the principal ones involved are also in a pretty precarious situation. The first url below shows the current situation which essentially means that it is all fairly fragile for Microsoft, and the second url gives Andy Updegrove's (Andy is in a technological law firm) take on the matter:

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Windows/FAT-Patent-Fight-Not-Over-Yet/

http://www.consortiuminfo.org/standardsblog/article.php?story=20090226062840462

Now if you put both of these together, you come up with the fact that Microsoft has much more to lose by alienating the Linux world because it will respond with prior art and the full force of the entire Linux movement. The other aspect is that TomTom is in Holland and the EU which tends to frown on any attempt by Microsoft to reduce interoperability between computer systems.

So what is Microsoft up to ? This almost looks like it is deliberately putting its hand into the fire. Perhaps this might help:
http://blogs.computerworld.com/could_microsoft_be_trying_to_acquire_tomtom

If this IS the case, it seems a rather messy way of so doing....... I repeat what I said earlier: Microsoft is playing with fire in this effort and so far, I cannot see a definite reason except blind dependence on their outdated attack mode of litigation if they do not get their own way.

Posted by: TonyOz   Posted on: 02/27/09 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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