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Patent system plunders Microsoft, threatens customers
Don't assume that you are any safer using Microsoft's products. While none of the above patent threats to Linux has yet to see a day in court, Microsoft has already lost at least two legal cases, the Eolas web plugin patent and Timeline Inc's patents.

Microsoft licensed patented technology for only itself without granting the right for end users and developers to use the same patented technology. Microsoft licensed Database/Datawarehouse technology from Timeline Inc, but unlike Oracle and other database vendors, Microsoft chose a license that did not grant Microsoft's customers the right to fully use that technology.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/02/20/sql_server_developers_face_huge/

Timeline has extended it's patent claims to cover many featured widely used by developers , both ISV and in house.
http://www.winnetmag.com/Article/ArticleID/41479/41479.html

Timeline Inc has won a US Washington Court of Appeal judgment against Microsoft for the right to sue Microsoft's customers,
http://web.archive.org/web/20030603225210/http://www.tmln.com/press.htm

and subsequently sued Cognos. On February 13, 2004, Cognos settled at cost to Cognos totaling $1.75 million
http://www.timeline.com/021304PR1.htm

In a lot of ways you are better with GPL licensed techology
http://www.newsforge.com/os/03/05/31/1244201.shtml

, which effectively grants all downstream users the right to use the patents from upstream developers under the terms of the GPL.
http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html

Software Patent are inherently bad but are also pushing vendors towards adopting the GPL-like licensing as a form of simpler form of cross licensing arrangement.
http://www.newsforge.com/comments.pl?sid=35817&cid=85432
Posted by: David Mohring   Posted on: 08/05/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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The Sky Is Falling! The Sky Is Falling! Ahhhh!  P. Douglas | 08/05/04
Well what the hey!  Jay Cash | 08/05/04
hahahaha  ejourner | 08/05/04
The green party, Munich Linux Patents  Nigel Johnstone | 08/05/04
EP0689133 (Adobe tabbed pallettes) 27-Dec-95  Nigel Johnstone | 08/05/04
tab patent invalid  Joe Blow_z | 08/05/04
Borland's Delphi had tabs too.  enduser_z | 08/06/04
EP335638 System for coordination activities of plurality of actors (1989)  Nigel Johnstone | 08/05/04
EP501416 Document data processing method for document retrieval  Nigel Johnstone | 08/05/04
EP0807891 Stateless Shopping Carts, Sun 1997  Nigel Johnstone | 08/05/04
EP0927945 Amazon taking the 'p'  Nigel Johnstone | 08/05/04
FUD for FUD?  OhMyGosh | 08/05/04
Microsoft offers true indemnification  Mike Cox | 08/05/04
Of whom?  IT_User | 08/05/04
Users included  Anton Philidor | 08/06/04
Microsoft Offers Almost Useless Indemnification  David Mohring | 08/05/04
denial  ejourner | 08/05/04
nonsense  alstew | 08/16/04
every time i power on  ejourner | 08/05/04
9/10  Tran McNally | 08/06/04
Alarmist headlines  IT_User | 08/05/04
Alarmist conclusions  Anton Philidor | 08/06/04
Patent system SHOULD be falling  seosamh_z | 08/05/04
Yep  IT_User | 08/05/04
I read yours  seosamh_z | 08/05/04
Don't worry--IBM, Novell, Red Hat, etc. will see to it that it will  Jeff Spicoli | 08/05/04
Linux isn't the issue, Jeff  IT_User | 08/05/04
In the mean time...  hipparchus2000 | 08/05/04
Don't Worry  alstew | 08/16/04
I Agree  P. Douglas | 08/05/04
This can be applied to more than just Linux  Chad_z | 08/05/04
Yes, all of open source is at risk  Anton Philidor | 08/06/04
Already started  seosamh_z | 08/07/04
Not just open source  voska | 08/09/04
Linux plagues patents  Yen_z | 08/05/04
Open Source Is An Affront To Capitalism  chrislovesdana | 08/05/04
Monopolies are a greater Affront To Capitalism  David Mohring | 08/05/04
YES, YES a brain resides here  ejourner | 08/05/04
What sort of computer did you use to write your post?  Jay Cash | 08/05/04
Oh, I hope you're kidding...  Martin Marvinski | 08/06/04
If you believe that about Open Source and Capitalism, you will love this:  B.O.F.H. | 08/06/04
Open Source is Capitolism at it's best.  voska | 08/09/04
Excessive capitalism is an affront to democracy  techboy_z | 08/11/04
Patent system plunders Microsoft, threatens customers  David Mohring | 08/05/04
yup  ejourner | 08/05/04
microsoft, just leave  ejourner | 08/05/04
Funny, your hero says the same thing.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 08/06/04
but the free software communityhas been amassing patents too  hipparchus2000 | 08/05/04
And then gave everything away with the GPL.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 08/06/04
Try reading the GPL  voska | 08/09/04
Would like to know source of financing  donpar@... | 08/05/04
Easy, it's the Public Patent Foundation.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 08/06/04
Time to re-read your EULAs.  Seething Ganglia | 08/06/04
Guess all that freedom is all that free  FilledOut | 08/06/04
Proprietary protection ???  Update victim | 08/06/04
Sorry, you are wrong.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 08/06/04
Subject too does not mean you are the target  voska | 08/09/04
Where I disagree completely.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 08/06/04
Which is your right  seosamh_z | 08/06/04
The GPL has been tested in one court already  B.O.F.H. | 08/06/04
Completely different context.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 08/07/04
You want to invalidate end user/developer licences?  B.O.F.H. | 08/07/04
GPL is based upon US Copyright law  B.O.F.H. | 08/07/04
You missed the point of unique  voska | 08/09/04
You're kidding, right?  Robert Crocker | 08/10/04
Europe cures the plague  ehj | 08/09/04
Thanks God  alstew | 08/16/04

What do you think?

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