OIN: TomTom settlement is no win for Microsoft, expect challenge

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I don't get it

For all the hootin' and hollerin' about this being an attack on Linux, I
just don't see what the big deal is.

Microsoft signed a license agreement with Tom Tom on a couple
patents that cover parts of Linux. It is a deal similar to the one signed
by Novell,from what I gather, and that agreement hasn't stopped
Novell from shipping Linux. Is it an attack on BMW when Bosch
requires them to license its patents on Antilock Breaking? I think not.

We can all debate the validity of any of these patents...everybody
knows that some truly ridiculous stuff makes it out of the US patent
office. Heck, IBM just patented the concept of outsourcing jobs to
India (unfortunately, I don't think they plan to use it to stop the
practice...).

However, let's try not to blow this all out of proportion and make it an
attack on Linux and Open Source, when it's just two patent holders
negotiating.

Posted by: QuietAmerican   Posted on: 03/31/09 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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