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And, to put it bluntly, MS will never sue over patents used in open source
projects. Never happened, never will.

Here is why:

Microsoft knows that they are not sitting on any patents that could significantly block any important any open source software that competes with MS software. They understand that the best they could hope for is putting a few open source companies out of business for PAST violations of the few patents that remained.

And, that would be a rather hollow victory for Microsoft, given that new companies would rise up out of the ashes of the destroyed companies, hiring the previous employees, being stronger than the predecessors, with all of the patent issues cleared up.

Funny to watch the boys at Microsoft squirm.
Posted by: DonnieBoy   Posted on: 05/16/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Just Remember This Link!  itanalyst | 05/16/07
Heads UP .  I'm Ye, the MS SHILL . | 05/16/07
No_Ax aka Bitty  jacarter3 | 05/16/07
My fans are amazing.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 05/16/07
Their admiration for your insight...  Anton Philidor | 05/16/07
Admiration for many insights  TripleII | 05/16/07
You always start celebrating in the first inning?  xuniL_z | 05/16/07
Yes, given that we are only in the first inning of Window/Linux competition  DonnieBoy | 05/16/07
Under your skin  TripleII | 05/17/07
I know exactly how you feel! (NT)  Loverock Davidson | 05/16/07
Oh those fans..  gotitright | 05/16/07
Without specific details  Boot_Agnostic | 05/16/07
Why do they need a patent war?  Chad_z | 05/16/07
I think as Vista is examined in the future,  bjbrock | 05/16/07
Why anticipate a patent war?  Anton Philidor | 05/16/07
From the reverse direction  TripleII | 05/16/07
Anton I agree with Trip here  Laff | 05/16/07
It is refreshing to see that the points  jacarter3 | 05/16/07
Very true, I think that MS is just shooting themselves in the foot here.  DonnieBoy | 05/16/07
You all right!  LittleGuy | 05/16/07
Yes, it is sad to think of all of the wasted millions of dollars paying  DonnieBoy | 05/16/07
MS Patents  boomchuck1 | 05/16/07
With who? Linux fans?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 05/16/07
We are talking the cost to ANYBODY developing open or closed source, if  DonnieBoy | 05/16/07
Naw, if you use MS tecnologies  No_Ax_to_Grind | 05/16/07
Re: Naw, if you use MS tecnologies  none none | 05/16/07
I do it everyday  No_Ax_to_Grind | 05/16/07
Bitty, a developer?  jacarter3 | 05/16/07
Since before you were born would be my guess.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 05/16/07
If so...  jacarter3 | 05/16/07
MS is not the only one with patents, and you can bet that MS would sue your  DonnieBoy | 05/16/07
Clutching for straws  No_Ax_to_Grind | 05/16/07
No, just the truth, MS does NOT protect you when you write for Windows.  DonnieBoy | 05/16/07
Sorry Donnie, its never happened.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 05/16/07
And, to put it bluntly, MS will never sue over patents used in open source  DonnieBoy | 05/16/07
Nope, not a single problem at all  bitfuzzy | 05/17/07
Re: With who? Linux fans?  none none | 05/16/07
I think you confuse wanting control with fear.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 05/16/07
Contol motive vs fear motive...  jacarter3 | 05/16/07
How many years have I heard this song  No_Ax_to_Grind | 05/16/07
Then keep humming it in your head... [NT]  jacarter3 | 05/16/07
Naw, it was stupid 5 years ago  No_Ax_to_Grind | 05/16/07
Keep humming anyway, as it's moving up the charts even faster now... [NT]  jacarter3 | 05/16/07
And what would you have them do for you?  xuniL_z | 05/16/07
"MS cares"  jacarter3 | 05/16/07
Hence the agreement with Novell  No_Ax_to_Grind | 05/16/07
Please tell me what name I called you?  jacarter3 | 05/16/07
The name you called him was 'bitty'  Badgered | 05/16/07
That was a reference to his previous ZDNET handle, not a "name" [NT]  jacarter3 | 05/16/07
I Agree with Carter...  BanjoPaterson | 05/16/07
I wonder where those industry leaders were when  xuniL_z | 05/16/07
You would think that MS would do a little research before they let the  DonnieBoy | 05/16/07
do you'll remember this?! M$ don't stand a chance!  ruped24 | 05/16/07
Agreed!  reugen | 05/17/07
Just another SCO...  DarbyOhara | 05/16/07
Barbary Pirates Redux  geekydewd | 05/16/07
Well, does it really matter?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 05/16/07
What you described is extortion, and is illegal here in the US.  DonnieBoy | 05/16/07
Not really...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 05/16/07
The big difference, is ELOAS actually filed the suit. You are proposing  DonnieBoy | 05/16/07
EOLAS did not file suit against open source  No_Ax_to_Grind | 05/16/07
Yes, that is right!! Pretty funny, so, sounds like open source is safer!!!!  DonnieBoy | 05/16/07
Glad to see you agree with me.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 05/16/07
Well, where we can agree is that fair or not, open source is safe.  DonnieBoy | 05/16/07
However...  zkiwi | 05/16/07
And, it has to be extremely frustrating for MS that they were the ONLY ones  DonnieBoy | 05/16/07
As I said, glad you finaly agree.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 05/16/07
Yes, we can agree that open source is safe. MS could only hope to put some  DonnieBoy | 05/16/07
But the net effect was...  Henry Miller | 05/16/07
And, you hit the nail on the head, that is the problem for MS.  DonnieBoy | 05/16/07
It wouldn't be that hard to get around this issue.  B.O.F.H. | 05/16/07
It all amounts to ramping up the rhetoric ...  George Mitchell | 05/16/07
Let's you and him fight.  Anton Philidor | 05/16/07
There won't be a patent war...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 05/16/07
That's why Red Hat talked with Microsoft.  Anton Philidor | 05/16/07
Re: Let's you and him fight.  none none | 05/16/07
"A civilized rule"  jacarter3 | 05/16/07
"... be ignored"?  Anton Philidor | 05/16/07
"ignorance defense disappears as soon"  jacarter3 | 05/16/07
Squelch the open source IP economy?  Anton Philidor | 05/16/07
Anton you're babbling again  jacarter3 | 05/16/07
Where in the legal code ...  George Mitchell | 05/16/07
They take more than cash.  Anton Philidor | 05/16/07
The changes you are suggesting would negate the value of open source ...  George Mitchell | 05/16/07
You tried to tell me that OSS has NO PATENTS to trade...  jacarter3 | 05/16/07
Experts say Microsoft's patent quest won't go far  Loverock Davidson | 05/16/07
5 over 10  galileon | 05/16/07
Attempts?  Loverock Davidson | 05/16/07
humour  galileon | 05/16/07
I see your mistake  Loverock Davidson | 05/16/07
3 over 10  galileon | 05/16/07
Oh GOD , I see even the dead can be resurrected .  I'm Ye, the MS SHILL . | 05/16/07
Re: Experts say Microsoft's patent quest won't go far  none none | 05/16/07
Nonsense  Loverock Davidson | 05/16/07
ROFL, the troll reacts!  B.O.F.H. | 05/16/07
Of course  cmjrees | 05/17/07
But, puting some Linux vendors out of business for PAST violations does NOT  DonnieBoy | 05/16/07
Sure it does  Loverock Davidson | 05/16/07
so that's your agenda  galileon | 05/16/07
Yes  Loverock Davidson | 05/16/07
And why?  Kid Icarus-21097050858087920245213802267493 | 05/16/07
Any distro that went under, would be quickly replaced by another one, with  DonnieBoy | 05/16/07
And you just admitted a big problem with linux  Loverock Davidson | 05/16/07
No, as we have been saying, MS will NOT file an lawsuits, it would be  DonnieBoy | 05/16/07
please  hillman.d@... | 05/16/07
Microsoft cracks them all up?  Ole Man | 05/16/07
No no no no no... cut!!  BanjoPaterson | 05/16/07
MS must be sued for libel for this to end.  Letophoro | 05/16/07
The usual Double STAndards.  xuniL_z | 05/16/07
No  TripleII | 05/16/07
This whole thing is such a joke ...  George Mitchell | 05/16/07
yes  galileon | 05/16/07
STOP IT!! You are making us cry. Poor, poor Billy and Stevie being sued  DonnieBoy | 05/16/07
The Funny Thing Is...  thejynxed@... | 05/16/07
The big question is....  tonyv414 | 05/16/07
Microsoft Patents not all that solid  David Chassels | 05/17/07
Careful!  Zogg | 05/17/07
Never happen just FUD  stormkrow@... | 05/17/07
Market Strategy- and a good one too!  hoiatl | 05/17/07
Screw MS ... Get eMule .... And Linux Too!  GreatInca | 05/17/07
Experts say alot, do very little  Boot_Agnostic | 05/20/07
And I say they don't go too far enough!  HypnoToad72 | 05/23/07

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