OSDL Says Patent Threat to Linux is Receding

blacksilver writes "The chief executive of the Open Source Development Labs (ODSL) has said that the threat facing Linux from software patent-infringement claims has receded. From the article: 'Lots of people who hold a lot of patents have looked at this issue, and nothing's come of it ... There's always been a suspicion that some of them [the alleged infringing patents] were held by Microsoft, so this could be an issue ... our customer advisor people speak to people, including major customers who run both Windows and Linux, and they say it's not an issue,'"

Comments

I don't think so...

[null etc.]

When asked if this meant he had no fears about a company claiming that Linux violated some of its patents, Cohen replied: "what was once a fear has now gone".

However, as the alleged 283 patents were never named, it's impossible to say whether they are all included in Patent Commons.

That's an incredibly short-sighted opinion. "Hey, we could potentially have problems, but since no one said anything for a few months, we must be okay. Danger averted!"

...at least until two years from now, when prior to Microsoft releasing Vista, they launch a volley of 500 patent infringement lawsuits in partnership with SCO and other vested interests.