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Linux Patent Infringement Lawsuit Filed Against Red Hat/Novell

Posted by Zonk on from the same-dang-thing-over-and-over dept.

walterbyrd writes "Just months after the last nail in SCO's case, and on the same day as Red Hat's brave words about patent intimidation, a company filed the first patent suit against the Linux operating system. IP Innovation LLC filed the claim against Red Hat and Novell over U.S. Patent No. 5,072,412. PJ points out there is prior art here: 'You might recall the patent was used in litigation against Apple in April 2007, and Beta News reported at the time that it's a 1991 Xerox PARC patent. But Ars Technica provided the detail that it references earlier patents going back to 1984.'"

3 of 473 comments (clear)

  1. Extra! Extra! Read all about it by mad+zambian · · Score: 0, Redundant

    at Groklaw.
    As usual ,PJ sets it out cleanly and succinctly.
    SCO II has arrived.

    --
    Trying to associate Microsoft with "fun" is like trying to associate Satan with aromatherapy. -Tycho
  2. headline makes my head asplode by tomstdenis · · Score: 0, Redundant

    This is a suit against distributors and/or the X-org team. It has nothing to do with the Linux kernel. You could just as easily remove X11 from your system and still have a useful box (e.g. server).

    That being said, these "IP warehouse" douchebags have got to fucking stop. How on earth did we do "$20 million" in damages to a company which didn't invest in the R&D, and doesn't sell products based on it. They probably acquired it for a couple million (joke).

    That also being said, wtf. Not like multiple desktops/windows is a new X11 feature. Why sue now? I think there should be a statue of limitations on filing patent suits. Otherwise, this will just keep getting worse.

    --
    Someday, I'll have a real sig.
  3. Re:...Or Timely by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    Consider that this lawsuit comes just as Vista is floundering and RedHat is set to release their desktop OS.

    Maybe after Ballmer finishes throwing chairs breaking Windows he will decide they had better get a XP revival going fast as Vista SUCKS! Yes, I have tried it and it is NFG.

    I look at this as it has a bright side.

    The biggest reasons the Redmond cowards will not sue direct is simple as it gets. They would have to show Windows code that is quite literally unacceptable for the following reasons.

    • code contains open source and stolen source.
    • the code will clearly look like the hack it is
    • Contains 1000's of copyright and patent infringements
    • Red Hat, Novell, IBM and others can discover above
    • Loaded with plagiarisms
    • Loaded with as yet undiscovered security issues

    Sooner or later, the Linux support vendors will have to band together and sue Micro$ofties to oblivion. Imagine IBM, Sun, HP, Dell, Ubuntu, FSF, Red Hat, Novell, and a host of others to band together in a class action against the monopoly. Lots of reasons to:

    • Extortion and intimidation
    • Price fixing and violates anti-trust fair pricing
    • Conspiracy with SCO and now these twits.
    • Open source used without credit

    -----
    Posted anon to avoid the mod wrath of idle M$ extortionists