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Ballmer Threatens Linux Patent Lawsuits
gillbates writes "Today Microsoft warned several Asian countries that using Linux could subject them to lawsuits, claiming that Linux violates '228 patents'. Apparently, Steve Ballmer believes he can enforce U.S. law in Asia." Ballmer is presumably speaking about this story. So, companies which sell insurance against lawsuits and companies which make competing products both warn of the dangers of using Linux. Maybe someone should point out that Microsoft is battling dozens of patent-infringement lawsuits itself, and any user of Microsoft software (including governments) could also be sued?
I knew we should have taken out the ability to double click!
And in related news from Middle Earth...
OSGILIATH (Reuters) - Mordor Corp. warned Middle Earth kingdoms on Thursday they could face the wrath of Orc armies for harbouring and aiding Gandalf and his fellowship of hobbits instead of rightfully bowing to the will of Sauron.
The growing popularity of Gandalf - a wise and benevolent wizard who freely aids all in need and is a friend of all free people of Middle Earth - is a thread to the global dominance of Sauron's Dominion Of Evil.
Gandalf's fellowship has illegally kept Sauron's valuables, Mordor's Mouth of Sauron said at the regime's Middle Earth Kingdom Leaders Forum in Osgiliath. He did not provide any details on what exactly the nature of Sauron's valuables which were stolen are, which the Fellowship disputes.
Ex-hobbit Gollum McBride, who claims that "nasty hobbitses stole his preciousss", is suing elves and hobbits alike, including the Shire.
Rohan's Riders of Defense at Gandalf's council last month readied 20,000 horsemen to face the assault of Mordor Corp instead of submitting freely to the evil reign of Sauron.
Other kingdoms in the region are also beginning to rally under one banner. Gondor, Arnor and Erebor this year agreed to jointly combat Sauron's forces at Gandalf's advice.
The kingdom of Gondor, in particular, sees its proximity to Mordor as a potential threat. Conspiracy buffs believe that subliminal messages sent to Denethor from Sauron via his Palantir might drive the steward insane and thus confuse and cripple Gondor's defenses, possibly during a battle in the Pelennor fields.
The Mouth of Sauron said that security fears some rulers had about surrending to Mordor were "overblown".
"We think Sauron will provide far more security than Gandalf ever could. Sauron is a better protector for you lot because he has this awesome Ring which he forged, he fixed and he stands behind. Gandalf doesn't have an awesome Ring," he said.
"Backups are for wimps. Real men upload their data to an FTP site and have everyone else mirror it." -- Linus Torvalds
You are not forgotten!
maybe MS prefers that the asian countries use pirated copies of Windows instead of pirated copies of Linux ;)
Consensus is good, but informed dictatorship is better
You left out Tom Bombadil.
And the liberation of the Shire.
Bahhh...
I hope it will be included in the Special Extended Edition of this post...
I don't need a signature.
I've said it a thousand times:Balmer is a complete idiot.Balmer is a stuffed scarecrow speaking with Gates voice saying things that Gates knows he would sound stupid saying but nonetheless just has to say to see reactions.
pay no heed to this sycophant.move along in an orderly fashion,nothing to see here.
*Repent!Quit Your Job!Slack Off!The World Ends Tomorrow and You May Die!
I had to reread that last sentence because my mind automatically inserted "thousands of" for me.
Advice to Ballmer: If you fight linux with patents, be prepared for Novell.
http://www.novell.com/company/policies/patent/
That's funny, I thought Microsoft had indemnified its customers against IP threats?
That's true, they did. Which means that even if Microsoft sues itself, I'll be in the clear!
Does anybody know when Steve's birthday is? I'd like to get him a monocle, a fake scar, and a white cat.
I think he can pull that look off better than Bill can.
Either that, or a pinstripe suit - so he can do the "Nice OS you have hear. It'd be a shame if anything were to happen to it" thing better.
www.eFax.com are spammers
....is to make em all triple-clicks.
C'mon then, someone tell me that the patent says "two or more clicks in quick succession"....
"Today Microsoft warned several Asian countries that using Linux could subject them to lawsuits, claiming that Linux violates '228 patents'. Apparently, Steve Ballmer believes he can enforce U.S. law in Asia."
"In a related story, Ballmer is suing Sony for allegedly producing an inferior product, Dance Dance Revolution, which he claims cannot stand up to 'real dancing.' Ballmer has reportedly broken 10 of the devices made for the PS2 doing, as he calls it, 'muh jiggy wifit foot stompin' moves....'"
"In yet another unrelated story, neighbors of Steve Ballmer are suing him for scaring their children with, as they explain it, 'producing high-pitched, glass-shattering, woman squeals.' Ballmer denied the allegations claiming that such noises are natural when 'getting jiggy wifit....'"
"I hear there's rumors on the Internets that we're going to have a draft." --George W. Bush
"All great things are simple & expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope." --Churchill
"You forgot Poland. No, seriously, don't fucking forget Poland."
I've already got a patent on teh axle, bitch!
Also, I've already applied for a patent for "a device, possibly over the internet, which reduces frictional forces acting upon an object by minimizing the surface area in contact with another mass, and by utilizing a rotational vector.
I plan to get ford first, then (thanks to that internet clause), I'm going after torvalds.
It's been a long time.
Fuck off.
Love,
Tux
p.s. - Fuck off.
In the dark past of Frenchkind, there is only war...
Use dozens, it's the New tens.
-- n
Perfect, another reason for the US government to wage war.
Seattle Software Party...
You mean something like having some people go out in the streets and protest against governments protecting large corporations with "unfair" laws?
Evolution is just a scientific theory. Creationism is not.
Following the latest trend of ridiculous referentials, how about:
. football fields of dollars
. highway lanes of dollars
. sand truckloads of dollars
. beer kegs of dollars
. stolen high explosive crates of dollars
Friend of the Wise, Brother of the Brave.
You forgot the perennial favorite: a Texas-sized pile of dollars. That's Mr. Gates' bank account statement.