Author of Linux Patent Study Contradicts Ballmer

An anonymous reader sends us this EWeek story, following-up on the recent Linux patent scare. The author of the patent study is contacted, and says, "Open source faces no more, if not less, legal risk than proprietary software. The market needs to understand that the study Microsoft is citing actually proves the opposite of what they claim it does."

Comments

And how many patent lawsuits has Microsoft had...

[mikael]

And how many patent lawsuits has Microsoft been involved in:

Microsoft, Tiscali sued over European download patent

Sun, Microsoft settle suit in billion dollar pact

Microsoft settles Intertrust patent lawsuit

Microsoft settles suit with Immersion

Microsoft settles 1999 Patent Infringement Case

Culture of negativity

[HangingChad]

MSFT is taking a page from Karl Rove's playbook. Between the paid-for TCO studies and the patent scare tactics they've turned relentlessly negative.

I think it makes an interesting statement about MSFT products to hear them bashing the competition instead of selling the competitive strengths of their products.

To me it's almost an admission that their product line is not cost competitve with OSS. That's not strictly a price comparison, it's a value comparison. MSFT products do not give you the same value for the $$$ that LInux and OSS. Something most of us here have known for a long time.

MSFT has been sticking it to their customers for years with higher and higher license fees, back-stabbing EULA's and Naziesque business practices. I think they're really underestimating how bad people dislike being dicked and how long their memories can be.

I know it sounds a little Pollyanna but it's unfortunate that going negative can be so effective. It's kind of like spam. Everyone complains about it but as long as it's effective we're going to keep getting buried buy it.