Slashdot Mirror
Open Invention Network Calls Out Microsoft
Stony Stevenson writes with news that the head of the Open Invention Network has summarily dismissed Microsoft's claims that Linux violates a number of its patents. Calling the move 'clear FUD', Jerry Rosenthal calls them out by asking for Microsoft to disclose the patents they are worried about. His argument is that if the patents are something to be proud of, if the software giant feels they're sure to succeed in court, there's no need for behind-the-hand namecalling. "Rosenthal believes that, if there are grounds for patent infringement, there would either be easy workarounds or the open source community would find 'prior art' which would invalidate the patent. OIN buys patents on the open market and makes them available to companies royalty free, so long as those companies pledge never to use their own patents to attack open source code.The organisation was set up by IBM, NEC, Novell, Philips, Red Hat and Sony and has a war chest of millions of dollars."
from their site: In order to continue this rapid pace of innovation, a refined model of intellectual property management has been established. Open Invention NetworkSM is an intellectual property company that was formed to promote the Linux system by using patents to create a collaborative ecosystem. The more the Linux community stay away from OIN, the better. The word Open is abused day by day, it seems a complete rewrite of the dictionary is needed.
If you keep throwing chairs, one day you'll break windows....
You know what, I don't think Microsoft knows which patents Linux is violating. There was a study done a few years ago, which was reported here on Slashdot, that said Linux may be violating a number of patents, but it didn't disclose any of them. I'll bet you anything Ballmer read that and thought, "Sweet! We've won!" Then at a certain PR event, he felt so excited about it he couldn't hold it in. He had to tell the world about this awesome study he'd heard about. Just like a little kid.
And that study may or may not be accurate, but Microsoft has no idea. They haven't gone through the code, it's just a bunch of hot air. Hope this doesn't stir up the water and get them looking.
Qxe4
Let's see, hundreds of visible industry columnists, analysts, and others call out Microsoft on their patent slander.
One more voice, this of an open (and therefore enemy) patent organization calls out the FUD.
Didn't matter then, doesn't matter now. Microsoft won't budge from their desire to continue to illegally dominate the marketplace, just as they have done for a dozen years.
I'd like to say it might make a difference, and it will to some-- but not Microsoft. People don't get that they believe that they're autonomous and above the law, fighting each thing until the very most bitter end. And what's going to change now?
Sadly, nothing. And they'll get worse after Craig Mundie becomes entrenched.
---- Teach Peace. It's Cheaper Than War.
"Intellectual property" is a misleading portmanteau of completely separate branches of law: trademarks, copyrights and patents. But the OIN despite the badly worded mission statement concentrates on patents. Specifically its a defensive patent pool (with contributions from Red Hat, Sun, Novell, IBM and others) which can be licensed by any company agreeing not to use its own patents in aggressive lawsuits against pool members.
Currently the three largest licensess are Google, Barracuda and Sun.
David Wheeler has a good overview here
Given the current lamentable state of the patent system the OIN is probably the only way in which some sanity can be established. It must be awkward to be Novell right now having endorsed the OIN on one hand, and also endorsed the existence of Microsoft's Snuffleupagus Patents.
If I'm Microsoft and I think I have patents that Linux infringes upon, why would I want to specify which ones? I would keep mentioning them to try and scare corporations away from using Linux. If that does not work to my satisfaction and Linux does someday become an actual threat, I can sue then and claim damages for all the time that Linux was being used and was infringing. If I tell now which patents I think are being infringed, then both of my options might be less effective.
If Slashdot were chemistry it would look like this:Cadaverine
I'm thinking about how to make a funny and clever comment about the two chicks in the picture in the article. They appear to stand on snow, which clearly is a reference to Tux, and this is especially true for the blond one in the black dress. What is this rope pulling anyway? What are they fighting over? If one wins, all they have is the rope to slap the other one. The rest is nothing but thin air.
If this picture is meant to illustrate the fight between Linux and Microsoft, I want to be in the middle! Yeah!
".....The organisation was set up by IBM, NEC, Novell, Philips, Red Hat and Sony ...."
The list of organizations reminds me of this pic: http://www.siliconhell.com/Images/Mad%20Cat/images/humour/spy.jpg
[alk]
I think I know why Microsoft can't show their hand even it the 200 patent violations are 100% true.
Often in a patent litigation case, there is an immediate countersuit by the opposing IP property owner as often there is many shared technologies in a complex project. The more complex a project is, the more likely someone else's patents have been inadvertently used in the project. In this case, MS code would be laid bare like Linux was in the SCO case. MS can't have the source code on the table for inspection. They know they are in possession of much prior art and many other patents, much of which they have no cross IP deals for. Closed source hides much of this behind the scenes. Because Microsoft has to keep it this way, they can't risk the counter suit. The SCO was a front for the attack Microsoft is unable to do in the open.
Microsoft would not survive the countersuit without severe damage.
This article is simply calling them on their veiled threats to put up or shut up. You may have the patents, but since you are not going to do anything about them, shut up already.
The only time to watch out for Microsoft is when Linux overtakes Windows and Open Office overtakes Microsoft Office. In other words, when they have nothing left and need a Hail-Mary play like SCO.
Remember the big deal with a trash can in Windows? MS knows it is not ready to scrap Windows and start from scratch.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_v._Microsoft
Even tabbed browsing in IE7 is at risk if they move on this.
The truth shall set you free!
deep down everyone knows that linux distros (not linux itself, necessarily) violate patents en masse
What a bogus, unsupported allegation. Either cite a violation or clam up. Oh! wait, here's one:
As an example, VideoLan admits that their VLC player runs afoul of mpegla patents
VLC is not packaged by either the Fedora Project, or by Red Hat, with the codecs which may/may not be infringing. Looks like your "deep down truths" are not so truthful.
But big companies like Red Hat *can* pay the necessary patent fees, and they shouldn't be getting a free ride.
Red Hat does not infringe any patents. So it's not getting any free ride. Furthermore it has to waste resources on legal counsel instead of coders in order to help in the creation, defense and maintenance of the Open Invention Network. (The legal counsel are excellent and do a good job. Mark Webbink especially seems like a top-notch guy).
Anyway, you're full of it. You can't even cite ONE, not ONE actual instance of patent infringement and neither can Microsoft because it doesn't exist.