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Hoisted by Their own Petard
"Someday, for all countries that are entering the WTO (World Trade Organisation), somebody will come and look for money owing to the rights for that intellectual property." Steve Ballmer (http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/linuxunix/0,39020390,39174372,00.htm)

"One problem of Open Source is created by so-called software patents. A prominent examples are the rights on the file format JPEG. The developing firm had initially handed out licenses for free in order to achieve worldwide distribution of the format. The buyer of the company now is demanding license fees from commercial users. This presents, if you like, a time bomb." Microsoft (Germany) (http://swpat.ffii.org/vreji/quotes/index.en.html)

Although I applaud MS's action in this instance - since I believe the more anyone does to undermine software patents the better - I still smile at their hypocrisy. Their attitude is: "patents of ours that you infringe on will cost you money - patents we infringe were we are found to owe money are either invalid or the law was incorrectly applied." This - from the company that brought you the EULA that would have satisfied satan.

Benjamin Disraeli once described the then Conservative Government as an organised hypocrisy. Some 160 years on, I fear Microsoft has become a disorganised hypocrisy. If it wasn't so serious, it would be funny.

The Banjo
Posted by: BanjoPaterson   Posted on: 10/29/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Supreme Court to hear Microsoft appeal  Loverock Davidson | 10/27/06
And rightly so , Microsoft should pay up .  Intellihence | 10/27/06
And you have the proof to back up your statement  Confused by religion | 10/27/06
on the flipside of that  Shelendrea | 10/27/06
Proof in UC Berkeley Case  mighetto | 10/27/06
4.5  KTLA | 10/28/06
Here's the difference between Mike & Mighetto .  Intellihence | 10/30/06
lol  Jack-Booted EULA | 10/27/06
" Btw, who the heck is Deil? "  Intellihence | 10/27/06
OK, now you're just being silly . . .  jlhenry62 | 10/27/06
Misspelling , thanks for looking out .  Intellihence | 10/28/06
cute =-)  Shelendrea | 10/30/06
C'mon Shelendrea...  rapson | 10/27/06
Point of the matter  x42 | 10/27/06
Microsofts theft of UC Berkeley Code Was Proven in Multiple Courts of Law  mighetto | 10/27/06
And how does that equate to 50% . . .  jlhenry62 | 10/27/06
Patent violation != Theft  A.Sinic | 10/28/06
for crying out loud  Shelendrea | 10/30/06
Sorry  rapson | 10/30/06
US Law is . . .  jlhenry62 | 10/27/06
And you have the proof to back up your statement  Intellihence | 10/27/06
Stolen?  x42 | 10/27/06
I thought...  rapson | 10/27/06
Basically a definition:  idrivea911 | 06/13/07
Attention  Dave_Friedel | 10/27/06
I guess we'll find out if MICROSUCKS paid out enough PACT money...  BeGoneFool | 10/27/06
Supreme idiots????  veecif2 | 10/27/06
Not only . . .  jlhenry62 | 10/27/06
Justices do take gifts  WiredGuy | 10/28/06
Intellectual property has always been funky  Dave_Friedel | 10/27/06
No you didn't  idrivea911 | 06/13/07
All patents must die [nt]  Omch'Ar | 10/27/06
Consider yourself a patent then  zkiwi | 10/28/06
Disagree  mobrien_12@... | 10/28/06
Happy Birthday Bill Gates!  Loverock Davidson | 10/28/06
Loverock Davidson is in love with Bill Gates .  Intellihence | 10/28/06
It's just sad.  mobrien_12@... | 10/28/06
I've allways wondered  John Zern | 10/28/06
Maybe you should find out.  mobrien_12@... | 10/29/06
Message has been deleted.  Linux_Fanboy | 10/28/06
Your a sick little perv.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/29/06
Message has been deleted.  Intellihence | 10/30/06
Just so that we can understand this correctly  John Zern | 10/28/06
Nope.  mobrien_12@... | 10/28/06
Answers to the court's questions.  Letophoro | 10/28/06
Hoisted by Their own Petard  BanjoPaterson | 10/29/06
Nice  lindros1 | 10/29/06
Silly posters...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/29/06
Do you acttually believe that fluff?  B.O.F.H. | 10/29/06
I don't think he believes any of what he says.  mobrien_12@... | 10/29/06
Silly Don  Rick_K | 10/29/06
You really are clueless  No_Ax_to_Grind | 10/30/06
Message has been deleted.  Intellihence | 10/30/06
I think it is you who is missing the point  Badgered | 10/30/06
Then you have a connundrum.  slopoke | 10/30/06
Want to know what burns me up about Microsoft ?  Intellihence | 10/30/06
It would be nice to see MICROSUCKS fined $100 BILLION for...  BeGoneFool | 10/30/06

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