Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Microsoft Says Free Software Violates 235 Patents

Posted by Zonk on from the rut-roh-raggy dept.

prostoalex writes "Microsoft told Fortune magazine that various free software products violate at least 235 patents, and it's time to expect users of this software to pay up patent licensing royalties: 'Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith and licensing chief Horacio Gutierrez sat down with Fortune recently to map out their strategy for getting FOSS users to pay royalties. Revealing the precise figure for the first time, they state that FOSS infringes on no fewer than 235 Microsoft patents.'"

11 of 1,217 comments (clear)

  1. The big fight LIVE! by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ladies and gentlemen, we have tonight a bout between two of the worlds greatest software idealogists.

    In the Blue corner weighing in at 289 pounds we have Monkey Boy Ballmer, his speciality move: The chair.
    In the Red corner, weighing in at 432 pounds we have the one and only R.M.S, speciality move, being R.M.S.

    Who will win this epic battle?

    --
    liqbase :: faster than paper
    1. Re:The big fight LIVE! by southpolesammy · · Score: 5, Funny

      And in the Big Blue corner, weighing in at 800 lbs and wearing the obligatory monkey suit...

      --
      Rule #1 -- Politics always trumps technology.
  2. Let me be the first to say... by msauve · · Score: 5, Funny

    Microsoft, fuck you!

    --
    "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
  3. Deja Vu? by earthforce_1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Tell Mr. Balmer he is welcome to a portion of the $699 Linux IP license I paid SCO. I hear they sold lots and lots of them.

    --
    My rights don't need management.
  4. where is the list of patents? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Here's what the interview should have been:

    Microsoft: It's a fact that Linux and free software infringe hundreds of our patents.

    Journalist: Which ones?

    Microsoft: Well, the kernel violates 60, the GUI violates...

    Journalist (interrupting): which 60? Where is the list?

    Microsoft: I'm not prepared to disclose that at this time.

    Journalist: Well this is a big fucking waste of my time, isn't it?

    Journalist: I went through this same dance with Darl McBride. Call me when you have something to say, bye

    1. Re:where is the list of patents? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      He couldn't list them because IBM owns the patent on listing patents.

  5. cAjones != cOjones by mangu · · Score: 5, Funny
    If MS has the cajones to file any patent suits


    A cajón is a big box (the aumentative of caja). A cojón is a testicle. Maybe that's the word you were looking for?

  6. Re:since when do users pay royalties? by The_Sledge · · Score: 5, Funny

    I would expect we all send MS a check for $0.01, really. The administrative headache will be the stuff of legend, and I imagine MS will have to create a whole new department and employ an extra 1,000 people for mail handling and admin processing.

    --
    HEX offender mugshot ID: 09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
  7. Re: reasoning me-self. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I take none of those products was a spell checker.

  8. Re:Microsoft flunks global test by dilby · · Score: 5, Funny

    Don't know what issues your talking about in Australia. Our current government motto when it comes to U.S. intellectual property law (in fact any law that a US entity wishes to impose on Australian citizens) is "We swallow"

    --
    This post patent pending.
  9. Re:Microsoft flunks global test by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    And THAT is why I love aussie girls.