Xandros CEO Doesn�t Agree Linux is Patent Violator

whitehartstag writes with a link to a Network World article about statements from Xandros in the wake of their Microsoft deal. Xandros CEO Andreas Typaldos made a point of stating that they don't believe their product violates any of Microsoft's patents. Nor, he said, did the software giant share with them exactly which patents they believe Linux violates. Just the same, he's disappointed with the reaction they've received from the open source community. "Feedback from the Linux community has been on the order of 'you shouldn't really be talking to the devil.' Linux and open-source advocates believe it is a big issue and say the Xandros deal, and another signed by Novell with Microsoft last year, erodes open source licensing provisions especially around intellectual property issues. Indeed, the Free Software Foundation is rewriting its GNU General Public License (GPL) 3.0 to prohibit such patent deals in the future."

Comments

Handy boilerplate, if this dumb trend continues

[toby]

Future submitters, just keep this text on hand the next time some idiot signs a deal with Microshaft:

$COMPANY made a point of stating that they don't believe their product violates any of Microsoft's patents. Nor, $COMPANY said, did the software giant share with them exactly which patents they believe Linux violates. Just the same, $COMPANY is disappointed with the reaction they've received from the open source community.

It's almost beyond belief that these guys keep giving the community a great big "FUCK YOU", and yet are always surprised when we don't welcome them as liberators, with flowers and open wallets.

Re:Handy boilerplate, if this dumb trend continues

[RevHawk]

"We're dissapointed in the way the community is handling this..." Here's a note for you Xandros & Co. - The community owes you nothing. Not dignity. Not respect. Nothing. The community continually develops and improves a product for free - you take it, modify it, and profit from it. Without them your business doesn't exist. Stop complaining. Communities are fickle.

Completely inacurate

[CaptainPatent]

Until Microsoft actually reveals the patents that are being "violated" it really can't be judged what patents (if any) do and don't violate Microsoft patents. Until this happens, all we are being fed is hearsay and speculation.

This guy has forgotten who the real engineers are

[div_2n]

FTFA: The customer in the market place is dictating what we are doing, not my engineers

You are using a tremendous amount of software your engineers didn't write. I'd say that inevitably, the authors of that software will dictate what you are doing. You and the customers are just enjoying the ride with their permission. Try to remember that the next time you throw dirt in their eyes--assuming you get that chance.

Let's put pressure on MSFT to put up or shut up

[christian.einfeldt]

IMHO, Microsoft's patent claims lack merit, for several reasons: prior art; obviousness; and limits on patenting math. Let's turn up the volume on our doubt of Microsoft's claims. Please challenge Microsoft to sue you (yes, you AND your company) by signing this list of 1,395 people who doubt Microsoft's patent claims:

http://digitaltippingpoint.com/wiki/index.php?titl e=SMFM_list_page_11

Re:I disagree - but I know where you're coming fro

[kebes]

It looks like this company is actually helping the community. They're eliminating the fear that if their product is used, they, the customer, won't have to worry about the big bad MS coming after them.

I guess the problem is that different people have different definitions of 'the community.' Xandros (and you) seem to think that 'the community' is "Xandros and their customers." Whereas others think that 'the community' is "the developers and the users of the software" (and note that those "users" may or may not be Xandros customers).

So, in effect, Xandros is making a deal that puts their 'community' above the community at large, whereas I would argue that the intent of the GPL in general, and the open-source developers that use it, is to create something that the wider community (all developers, all users, including Xandros and their customers) will ultimately benefit from.

I think that as long as companies like Novell and Xandros keep thinking of the community of only being made up of their paying customers, they are missing the point of free software and ultimately will be missing out on the crucial developments that they require to maintain profitability.

Re:No Idea What They're Doing

[drinkypoo]

This chicanery hasn't yet hit a distro that I use, but it's a trend that really should stop.

It bothers me too, but at the same time we're learning valuable lessons about who we can and cannot trust.

Everyone who signs one of these agreements with Microsoft simply goes on my "do not buy -- ever" list. And I would assume that many others are doing the same.

Making these deals now might help them retain or even attract certain specific customers, but in the long run when we are all looking back on this, we'll be avoiding those companies which knuckled under and kowtowed to Microsoft.

I went with Linux [originally] specifically to get away from Microsoft! It's become my refuge from their incompetence, and I refuse to help anyone who compromises that.

Re:You must be new here.

[Kadin2048]

Anything that suggests Microsoft is doing something good is immediately shot down.

I fail to see how "pay us and we won't crush you" qualifies as 'doing something good.'

By that metric, the Mafia must be the best guys ever! All they want is your money, and they'll be ever so nice to you.

These deals are not meant to "eliminate" fear

[walterbyrd]

Just the opposite.

Msft wants the public to believe that *only* novell and xandros can be used without fear. Where does that leave redhat, which has about 75% of the enterprise market? Or Debian, or Ubuntu, or Mandrake, or Slackware?

The very fact that these deals are made makes Linux look dirtry - which is of course the idea. These companies take msft fud money to help msft imply that linux is a legal mine-field.