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Patent wars?
I know you are constantly trumpeting MS newfound patent religion and the threat to "sue open source into oblivion," but I think MS has better sense that to bring its knife to start a gunfight.

I am fully supportive of MS legitmate use of patents to fend off patent terrorists and protect its intellectual property (a legitimate concept, even despite Darl McBride's distortions), but using wrongfully-issued patents in an attempt to stifle innovation is a losing proposition - as another post suggested, don't bet against the house.

The major open source proponents, who are poring resources into making a better Linux, have the deep pockets, breadth of portfolio, and research maturity to defend their business and their customers against any party that would attempt to interfere with international commerce. Recall that HP began as a research organization and that IBM (and GE, whose business ties with IBM are so deep as to have prompted the selloff of the 635 to Honeywell) has a portfolio that extends over time and far deeper into basic research, where your patent has a much greater chance of standing the test of originality.

As an example of IBM's research strength, recall that IBM put up the web's first full text search, image retrieval patent database (surpassing PTO's inhouse search system, under construction since 1984) purely as internal R&D to prove out intergation of its database and web technologies. Not a penny of public money was used, and the PTO was largely unaware of the project until it arrived full-blown on the web. That's some power, bud.

Microsoft's R&D seems to be much more on the applied side, in direct or close support to the product development. As such, it would have more characteristics of pulling technology off the shelf than adding to the technology base,and the resultant patents likely much more challengeable than some of those that IBM, HP, GE and the National Laboratories can bring to the table.

While we might share the Public Patent Foundation's suspicions of Microsoft's motives, I personally don't see the company taking SCO's path of desparation. I think MS can and will morph into a long-term valuable contributor to the industry.
Posted by: IT_User   Posted on: 04/16/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Now did that hurt anybody? And, is it complete?  oldskool | 04/15/04
Good for everyone,,,, except Open Source.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
On OOo, yes... on StarOffice, no  Michael Kelly | 04/15/04
Star Office is not open source...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
What's broken in this thinking is its not OSS that's shut out -  oldskool | 04/15/04
Problem is MS only has one hand  Jay Cash | 04/15/04
True, that's why users love MS products.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
This is not a Microsoft problem  B.O.F.H. | 04/15/04
Sorry, I have to disagree.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
Users did not make Office the standard!  oldskool | 04/15/04
So then how is it...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
Why is it then that...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
Well????  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
Users did not make Office the standard!  seosamh_z | 04/15/04
You "Office makes the world go round" guys are too funny  oldskool | 04/16/04
Then Open Source needs to start preempting MS  Michael Kelly | 04/15/04
How can open source...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
A couple things...  Michael Kelly | 04/15/04
Balmer answered this question himself  oldskool | 04/15/04
Then Open Source needs to start preempting MS  seosamh_z | 04/15/04
100% spot on.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
Nonsense, R&D costs IBM on every platform!  oldskool | 04/15/04
Say what?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
Ya gotta admit, MS would be awsome if they focused!  oldskool | 04/15/04
Actually, it's easier than that  IT_User | 04/15/04
BSD is Open Source  Yagotta B. Kidding | 04/15/04
When you "close the door"  Jay Cash | 04/15/04
True, I always...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
What does Linus T. say about it?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
MS may actually benefit the industry  IT_User | 04/15/04
Interesting and thoughtful post.  Jose Jimenez | 04/15/04
Yes but..  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
Doesn't bitty ever get tired of hearing himself crow?  Spam-ZD | 04/16/04
GPL not tested in court???  IT_User | 04/16/04
Patent wars?  IT_User | 04/16/04
Whoa, back up a couple of feet.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
this has nothing to do with open source  V Sanders | 04/15/04
Mountain out of a molehill, as usual, Axe...  Jose Jimenez | 04/15/04
Unless you get caught of course.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
Huh??  Jose Jimenez | 04/15/04
I was talking about your example.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
Even so.....  Jose Jimenez | 04/15/04
Wrong...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
Explain that one to me please....  Jose Jimenez | 04/15/04
From Microsoft's web site:  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
Did that explain it Jose?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
Yeah, here's your license.....  Jose Jimenez | 04/15/04
So you agree, you must have a license.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
I never said you didn't  Jose Jimenez | 04/15/04
So your claim...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
Is this where you smugly claim to have won the debate?  Jose Jimenez | 04/15/04
Don't be so hard on No_Ax...  B.O.F.H. | 04/15/04
What has that to do with the discusion..  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
Just helpiing your arguement about the evils of Open Source  B.O.F.H. | 04/15/04
There did that help your little ego?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
No ego involved here, not even needed!  B.O.F.H. | 04/15/04
Daid the little one that can't post without insults.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
No_Ax, is that the best you can do?  B.O.F.H. | 04/15/04
NO, I can't come close to your insultive behaviour.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/15/04
No_Ax, a quick serach on google will show that you have gone farther!  B.O.F.H. | 04/15/04
isn't that like stalking  V Sanders | 04/15/04

What do you think?

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