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MS-Sun Agreement Leaves Opening For OO.org Suits

Posted by timothy on from the on-what-basis-is-unclear dept.

newentiti writes "We all know Microsoft paid $900,000,000.00 to Sun and they also signed a LIMITED PATENT COVENANT AND STAND-STILL AGREEMENT. The agreement basically states that Microsoft will not sue Sun for any patents for the next 10 years and vice versa. What's really interesting is that according to this story the agreement had a special provision that lets Microsoft sue anybody, including Sun, over OpenOffice.org. I wonder what Microsoft had in mind?"

3 of 407 comments (clear)

  1. Hardly seems sinister by Dav3K · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Please notice that items like Star Office ARE included in the agreement, so I don't think this belies any patent cases against end-users. The biggest difference between Star Office and Open Office is that one is under the control of Sun, and one is not (or at least less-so). Therefore, Sun would obviously not want to be held responsible for things beyond it's control, such as outside coders blatantly putting in patented/copywrited material into Open Office.

  2. Possible Simple Explanation by donscarletti · · Score: 5, Insightful
    It could simply be that Microsoft does not trust the open source community not to flagrantly disregard all microsoft patents when modifying OO.o if they were given immunity from civil action.

    That said, I this is Microsoft and their legal actions have rarely been that benign in the past.

    --
    When Argumentum ad Hominem falls short, try Argumentum ad Matrem
  3. war of attrition by OklaKid · · Score: 5, Insightful

    they only way to deal with the tyrant of Redmond is a war of attrition...
    no quarter, no mercy, just cut em off completely, send msft to the recycle bin of history forever...
    msft is not to be trusted under any circumstances...
    this has already been done both in my office and at home...