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Microsoft Gives Xandros Users Patent Protection

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the try-try-again dept.

DigDuality writes "Microsoft, shrugging off licensing moves to prevent it from repeating its controversial patent deal with Novell, has signed a set of broad collaboration agreements with Linux provider Xandros that include an intellectual property assurance under which Microsoft will provide patent covenants for Xandros customers."

11 of 298 comments (clear)

  1. Vista... by Adolf+Hitroll · · Score: 1, Funny

    ...from the makers of EDLIN. :-D

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    Smile, don't click...
  2. I like these deals by h4rr4r · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is great. I used to have to pick from so many distros, now I have 2 scratched off the list.

    I have used SuSe in the past, but I will never again. Xandros I never used and never will.

  3. Re:Disambiguation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Probably the condom one. Preferably lubricated, as I've heard MS is heavily endowed. But maybe Xandros likes it rough.

  4. Re:Andreas Typaldos (CEO of Xandros) is a MORON! by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 5, Funny

    What the fuck was this guy thinking, to make the same kind of deal despite seeing Novell get blackballed by the community?

    The difference is that Xandros is a dieing company and a little cashola from Microsoft keeps them afloat a little longer. And too bad for Xandros, Microsoft doesn't own Linux, SCO does... ;)

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    If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
  5. I was wrong by ClosedSource · · Score: 4, Funny

    There is a way to profit from open source. Make a Linux distro and then make an agreement with MS. Sweet.

  6. I have a plan .... by PurPaBOO · · Score: 3, Funny

    1. Fork Xandros - call it Expandros or something.
    2. Do a "patent" deal with Microsoft.
    3. ???
    4. Profit!

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    If it weren't for the rocks in its bed, the stream would have no songs.
  7. Re:For all those who wanted less distros by LDoggg_ · · Score: 3, Funny

    Who will be next? Keep tuned

    Hey, can't we all just create derivative distros and have MS pay us to indemnify our users?

    Oh, wait... should that have been in 1..2..3?..Profit!!! form?

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    "If they have both, tell them we use Linux. And if they have that, tell them the computers are down." -Dave Chapelle
  8. Here's a link to a similar racket by Weaselmancer · · Score: 2, Funny

    Buy Xandros, now with immunity from Microsoft Lawsuits(tm)!

    Sounds pretty similar to this.

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    Weaselmancer
    rediculous.
  9. Dear Mr. Gates by Mateo_LeFou · · Score: 4, Funny

    I heard you were doing this thing where you -- generously, I must say -- agree not to sue a distrbution's customers for infringing a bunch of patents that you won't name. I also heard -- and this is why I'm writing -- that *you are paying *them for this. So...

    I'd like in on this. I'm going to create a new distro every day from now until August 7. In exchange for you not suing the people who buy or download it, I'd like you to give me, say, $5 million per distro. I can come down a bit, though.

    --
    My turnips listen for the soft cry of your love
  10. Let me deconstruct the ribbon patent by tepples · · Score: 3, Funny

    However, you cannot copy graphics and icons (unless they're standard icons). This limits the effectiveness of a "copy" of someone else's interface. If they're not standard icons, then users won't notice that they've been redrawn from scratch, and those users who do notice can be retrained: "To open the Start menu, click the K instead of the colorized Wheatables cracker".

    The first would, of course, be patents MS most definitely holds on the ribbon. I tried Access 2007's ribbon once, and it was pretty much just a tabbed toolbar. The bottom panel of Blender 3D modeling software has something very close to a ribbon. Do you have the numbers of these patents so that I can try deconstructing their claims?
  11. Re:How much were they paid? by Paradise+Pete · · Score: 2, Funny
    No. A Smart CIO will standardize on MS Office products because the average Joe and Jane knows their ways around Office Suite. Throw in something slightly different and people start freaking out because they look different.

    Yup. That's why at my company we're still using paper and pencil. The average Jane and Joe here know their way around it. I tried to introduce computers, but people started freaking out because they looked different. I keep thinking maybe I should just hire slightly more competent people, but hey, if it ain't broke...

    What's that? long-term thinking? Please. What are you, some kind of egg-headed "visionary"?