Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Analyzing Microsoft's Linux Lawsuit

Posted by kdawson on from the does-this-suit-make-my-filesystem-look-fat dept.

jammag writes "Open source advocate Bruce Perens takes a close look at Microsoft's lawsuit against TomTom (discussed here last week), which involves an implementation of the Linux kernel, and calls it essentially a paper tiger. He notes: 'the technologies claimed in the 8 patents involved are so old and obvious that it's fair to say they have a high "Duh!" factor. There's an anti-trust angle to this suit that could blow up in Microsoft's face. And there's a high probability that some or all of the patents involved are invalid, due to recent court decisions.' Although the legal expense for TomTom to defend itself in court could be astronomical — meaning they may be forced to settle — in Perens' view Microsoft is aware its case is weak, yet hopes for a PR victory at limited cost." And reader nerdyH adds speculation from Open Innovation Network CEO Keith Bergelt that Redmond's action could be retaliation for TomTom's spurning a Microsoft acquisition bid in 2006.

7 of 297 comments (clear)

  1. Analyze This! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    If you're sick of all this Bruce Perens bullshit, reply to this message!

  2. Re:Yes, but... by FunkyRider · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Fuck your mama

    --
    just wonder why there are so many anonymous cowards in this world....
  3. A List Of Things Linux Users Can Do To Beat MS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    * Make a BSOD joke on Slashdot

    * Start a new Linux distro

    * Anonymously flame people who don't support your particular kooky open source licensing ideology or products that aren't licensed with your particular favorite open source license on Slashdot

    * Write a long winded and rambling manifesto about 'teh Power of Choice'

    * Start a second Linux distro, flame the idiots who are now running your first distro

    * Post a link to 'teh Cathedral and teh Bazaare'

    * Make something spin in 3D on the desktop

    If every Linux user just did one of those things just imagine where Linux would be today?

  4. kdawson is a whore by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    but that's ok slashdot won't be around for long. So long you bunch of bitches!

  5. Re:question by The+End+Of+Days · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Not a legal case, no. Particularly not an analysis posted on Slashdot, because they'll only accept stories that fit the "open source good, microsoft evil" bias.

  6. Re:question by ozphx · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I'm pretty certain that when Tomtom backs down on this, the butthurt expressed here will be epic.

    Almost on the same scale as "Microsoft is Invading my Firefoxes" from a month or so ago.

    --
    3laws: No freebies, no backsies, GTFO.
  7. That reminds me... by MrKaos · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Why I hate M$ so much. DDDiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee M$ Diiiiiiieeeeeeee.

    --
    My ism, it's full of beliefs.