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The Real Reason For Microsoft's TomTom Lawsuit
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."
Or maybe they are just trying to protect their intellectual property so they don't get scammed and have to fire employees for lost revenue.
Non-Industrial embedded developers are probably going to move away from linux (or at least the gnu bits) after GPLv3 anyway.
Just one more case where the GPL causes unnecessary problems. Unfortunately, I'm about to be marked troll and flamebait, even though this comment is neither, because of the other way that the GPL causes problems: zealots.
StoneCypher is Full of BS
as someone who has used samba, he is responsible for one of the worst configuration file formats ever. He obviously has skill and intelligence, but I can only conclude that he's some kind of idiot savant and borderline retarded in most areas of his life.
More problems with this OPEN SORES software. It's just not worth it. Support innovation and hard work; support our economy and jobs: SUPPORT CLOSED SOURCE SOFTWARE!
What are you having for lunch?
It isn't web browsers, since IE continues to dominate. It isn't office software, since MS Office continues to dominate. It isn't photo editing, video editing, sound editing, graphics software, file formats, file systems.
Not on the web, where Flash and Java reign. Not email either on the client or server side. CAD software, no. Automation, no. Enterprise databases, no. Music, no. Cell phones, no. You might be doing well in embedded devices but judging from this move by MS, combined with Stallman's poison pill against Tivo, that probably won't be true for long.
You have a good hold on web servers, I'll give you that, but I'd think you'd tire of the same dish for every meal.
Nobody's forcing you to use their products. Feel free to keep corporations out of your life ...
Who, exactly is standing in your way ? Oh right, by "intellectual disobedience" you mean you want all their products for free, that they should give up everything, first their profit and then, inevitably, their very existence.
That too would cost you the use of their products obviously.