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The Real Reason For Microsoft's TomTom Lawsuit

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the get-your-conspiracy-on dept.

Glyn Moody writes "We now know that Microsoft's lawsuit isn't just against TomTom, but against Linux too: but what exactly is Microsoft hoping to achieve? Samba's Jeremy Allison has a fascinating theory: 'What people are missing about this is the either/or choice that Microsoft is giving Tom Tom. It isn't a case of cross-license and everything is ok. If Tom Tom or any other company cross licenses patents then by section 7 of GPLv2 (for the Linux kernel) they lose the rights to redistribute the kernel *at all*. Make no mistake, this is intended to force Tom Tom to violate the GPL, or change to Microsoft embedded software.' Maybe embedded Linux is starting to get too popular."

2 of 408 comments (clear)

  1. Should have used Ninnle! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Since Ninnle Linux it completely open source and contains not a shred of proprietary code, there's way Micro$oft can accuse it of anything. More systems using embedded Linux need to switch to Ninnle. It's secure, robust and flexible.

    There was a recent post here on /. in which no less than Linus Torvalds himself professed his love for this distribution, and urged others to join the Ninnle revolution.

  2. I'm Hooked on Ninnle!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Not just any Linux, but Ninnle Linux!

    Joanie.