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13 Reasons To Celebrate the New MS-Novell Pact

An anonymous reader writes "The recently announced agreement between Microsoft Corporation and Novell, Inc. has resulted in much concern that it could be harmful for Linux and other free software. However, the agreement itself, as well as its timing and comments made by Microsoft executives about it, may actually be a very good thing — and perhaps even worthy of celebration!"

10 of 40 comments (clear)

  1. Needs More FUD by eldavojohn · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Whoever wrote this article lives in a fantasy land full of gum drop trees and puppy dog kisses.

    Not only are these points weak, they're a stretch. And number four is laughable,
    (4) The agreement and accompanying threats are serving as additional bad publicity in the free software community for an increasingly troubled Microsoft, and the effect will be to further motivate developers and users of free software. People do not like to be threatened or bullied, and they can react strongly to it.
    That's right, folks, this agreement will make developers so angry that they'll triumph in the face of Microsoft telling them they're all patent infringers. Yep, sound argument to me. Let's see here ... SAMBA developers very happy & OpenSUSE devs happy. In case you couldn't tell, I was being sarcastic.

    And also, some of the footnotes are pure comedic genius,
    Benefitting Microsoft could be a good thing, even in the eyes of many advocates of free software, if it helps that company to reallocate its massive resources to emphasize developing truly innovative and quality products instead of attempting (increasingly in vain) to protect a doomed monopoly. These resources include its large number of very talented employees, some of whom are our friends and neighbors.
    It's so funny because the way I see it, this was the perfect way to hobble Linux & threaten all the application development on it so that the competition for Windows dwindles & therefore they can produce pure crap and we'll have to use it. Please explain yourself, Linux Information Project.
    --
    My work here is dung.
    1. Re:Needs More FUD by Ajehals · · Score: 2, Interesting

      This line made me think of something I hadn't thought to consider before (excuse my rather twisted mental process... and appologies for potentially adding to any MS generated FFUD - it is not intended.)
        Anyway - the line:

      That's right, folks, this agreement will make developers so angry that they'll triumph in the face of Microsoft telling them they're all patent infringers.

      My thought:

      Setting aside for a moment the fact that software patents are not applicable everywhere, and some other points such as the wide geographic spread of OSS developers..

      Is it possible that MS or any other patent holder would go after the individual developers responsible for the creation of OSS software?

      I don't mean just the large companies or business that use OSS (i.e. groups that could actually pay any compensation) , but the individuals who produce the applications, fixes and add ons that OSS is built up of. The worry here would be that it would place a burden on potential developers and potentially reduce the amount of people willing to contribute...

      Moreover with the US seemingly having a much larger international grasp, (not a partisan political comment but there have been a number of cases where US domestic law appears to have been used against individuals with either only tenuous links to the US or no links at all, but where poor exradition agreements exist...) would that potentially threaten international development efforts that are occurring outside the scope of the US patent law?

      I hate to say i but when I see a deal like this one I am unable to see any of the good points that must be there and tend to see them more as potential threats to OSS, especially since it seems that OSS is starting (with ODF and others) to impact in markets that have traditionally been associated with Microsoft (either as a Microsoft Dominated area, or as a Microsoft Monopoly.)

      Anyway - As I said - this comment is not intended as FFUD or to start/further any myths - just a though

  2. In FUD times we live by El+Lobo · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Long gone are the days when developing or using a system was such a simply thing like pressing the power button and enjoying the ride. Unfortunatly people these days are more involved in the political side of the things than in the same process of joy. So for many peoples these days their holy words are "no politics, no joy". MS and Novel have a pact? So what? This will tbe the end of MS? No freaking way! The end of Linux? of course not! So is this whole FUD wave a way to satisfy the politian than most people (men) have inside?

    --
    It's time to realise that Abble's products are the biggest abomination these days. Just say NO to the dumb iAbble way!!
  3. A Test Of The Maturity Of The Open Source World by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The reaction the open source community finally arrives at as a whole will be an indication of wether or not it has matured to the point where it can function as a legitimate entity in the business world.

    There are three distinct reactions to Microsoft's blatant and utterly un-subtle attack on Linux:

    1) Swift and decisive public action sending a clear message to the computing and business worlds that this aggression will not stand, man. Novell software and patent minefields like mono are purged from all open source distros and entities.

    2) Wallowing in ignorant self-delusion that maybe it will all go away.

    3) Self-defeating and inane +5 Insightful masturbatory posts letting everyone know just what a open minded and reasonable person you are for trying to look on the bright side of this frontal assault on Linux. "Hey, Microsoft can't be ALWAYS evil...maybe they just want to be friends!"

    Read groklaw.net, get informed. If you aren't scared to hell about the long term implications of this attack on Linux through patents, you haven't read enough about it.

    The time for sticking your head in the sand is over. Microsoft is in open war with Linux. And no matter what you think of their products, Microsoft execs live to destroy. And they have you directly in their sights. Are you going to stand there and be slaughtered like a dumb animal or wake up and get informed and take decisive action?

  4. In other news... by Chaffar · · Score: 5, Funny
    13 reasons to celebrate when people commit suicide:
    1. more food for us (unless the person was a fashion model).
    2. more jobs for us (unless the person was unemployed)
    3. more housing available to us (unless the person was a hobo)
    4. less mating opportunities available to the opposite sex (unless the person was just as much a loser as you)
    5. it gives cops and forensics experts a job
    6. it helps Hollywood plotlines
    7. helps the environment (less strain on resources, and the body will eventually be used as fertilizer)
    8. There's a 19.8% chance that he isn't white (unless you aren't white)
    9. Supermarket lines will potentially be shorter.
    10. There will probably be free food available at the funeral.
    11. Dressing up in black suits is always cool.
    12. You could take a hair comb, attach a LED to one end of it, and act as if you're from MIB.
    13. If there weren't any suicides, then this list wouldn't have existed.
  5. Re:First in a series... by mqduck · · Score: 3, Funny
    3. Reasons to celibrate anal rape


    Well, at least they didn't get pregnant! *celebrates*
    --
    Property is theft.
  6. Linfo.org Owned By Microsoft by Foofoobar · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Microsoft has ever so recently started creating it's own 'pro-windows' Linux websites and putting up propoganda. Linfo.org is one of those sites. It's registered to an email of ips@connectexpress.com who do promotions for companies. The registrant is from Bellevue, Washington where half of the Microsoft campus is (Redmond is LITERALLY across the street).

    The phone number used for registering this site goes to an answering service. This is nothing more than a propoganda site sponsored by Microsoft

    --
    This is my sig. There are many like it but this one is mine.
    1. Re:Linfo.org Owned By Microsoft by What'sInAName · · Score: 2, Informative


      Umm, complete bullshit. The site you mentioned was formed by the Bellevue Linux Users group (or at least hosted there.) See their site here:

      http://www.bellevuelinux.org/index.html

      ConnectExpress.com is one of their sponsors.

    2. Re:Linfo.org Owned By Microsoft by vojtech · · Score: 3, Informative
      I would seriously doubt that.

      According to the linfo.org pages, linfo is a project of the Bellevue Linux Users Group.

      Checking out whois isn't always the most reliable way to figure out who is behind a site.

      Would you expect this on a Microsoft-owned website?

      (And yes, I do work for Novell. And I don't have much of a reason to defend the site, since most of the reasons listed don't expect Novell to survive, only to serve as a bad example.)

  7. Software patents are dead! by mangu · · Score: 2, Insightful
    If you aren't scared to hell about the long term implications of this attack on Linux through patents, you haven't read enough about it


    In the 1800s they had a law in England that forced every self-propelled vehicle on the road to have a horseman precede it waving a red flag. Many historians argue that this law had a strong effect in delaying the invention of automobiles. I don't think so. The automobile was invented as soon as a suitable engine was developed. The boilers and steam engines of the mid-1800s were practical only for locomotives, they were too heavy to use without steel rails. As soon as lightweight engines were available, the red-flag law was rescinded.


    I think software patents are just trying to delay the inevitable, the old-style software business is dead. Free software is what Clayton Christensen called a "disruptive innovation". It will kill the old business model because the old model is stuck in a corner from which it cannot evolve. The most they can do to delay the inevitable end is to outsource development to some less-developed countries where programmers get lower wages, but that is a self-limiting process.


    In the end, free source will prevail because it uses the power of the internet, where people from the whole world can participate in a project. Intellectual property is a two-edged sword: it allows companies to derive higher profits by charging royalties from every user, but at the same time every user must pay again for a development that has already been paid for. In the end, a free market will always favor the one who has lower costs.