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IO Data Licenses Microsoft's "Linux Patents"
eldavojohn writes "The Japanese computer manuracturer IO Data is the latest in line to license Microsoft's so-called 'Linux patents,' following the likes of Novell, Samsung, and Amazon. Yes, even the press releases use the word 'Linux' to describe these patents. From the press release: 'Specifically, the patent covenants apply to I-O Data's network-attached storage devices and its routers, which run Linux. Although the details of the agreement have not been disclosed, the parties indicated that Microsoft is being compensated by I-O Data.'"
I wish I could run a scam as good as Microsoft's.
I might be holding a club behind my back. Should I choose to begin swinging this club, which I may or may not have, I can guarantee that I will not strike you with it, for a small fee.
UNIX/Linux Consulting
A mean bunch of bastards for claiming patents and not disclosing any kind of infringement. But the ones that buy into the scam, man, those are PLAIN IDIOTS.
NO SIG
I don't understand why the Linux developers are so quiet about this. Microsoft is building up a huge amount of momentum around the idea that Linux violates some arbitrary patents, and not a single Linux developer or company appears willing to call them out on it. Bizarre.
I always find the 'imaginary patents' or similar lines hilarious as it assumes that Microsoft walks in and says "In this sealed envelope that you may not open or see, we have a list of patents that you are infringing on... you should license them."
Each and every company who gets involved in such a licensing deal knows full well what they are getting into and exactly what they are licensing... and if not, they probably should fire their entire legal staff who said they should go ahead with the licensing deal without knowing just what they are getting out of the deal.
Help Brendan pay off his student loans
This is why Microsoft is smarter than Apple. You see, Microsoft is getting easy paydays from all these companies. Sure it's not as much as they'd try to get if they sued, but they're still raking in the cash for running what is essentially a protection racket. Apple on the other hand, sues HTC for patents covering BS like moving an icon across the screen at variable speed. Apple might be going for a bigger payday, but is very much at risk of losing the lawsuit and losing the patents.
Or they are actually taking money from Microsoft on the back end in a underhanded bid by an underhanded convicted monopolist to establish a right to licensing fees as a way to stifle competition. See for an example the Novel SUSE license certificates MS bought as a result of the Novel deal. Basically since we can't see the terms of the deals that could be happening in each and every case. Microsoft or some investment firm they have a stake in makes and investment (payoff) in these companies. They basically did that through Bay Capital as a way to fund SCO indirectly.
Make no mistake this is typical MS dirty deeds and the whole point is to stifle legitimate REAL competition which as is usually the case they can't abide. And so MS will use every dirty underhanded trick they can to destroy or marginalize OSS. They are bastards and never EVER to be trusted to be sure.
Nothing wrong with a fair exchange which increases value for all parties concerned.
Have you not realized that by not publically disclosing the list... Microsoft actually saves the FOSS community a lot of heart-ache and pain?
Rubbish. M$ isn't saving any one. If M$ puts out the list of infringing patents, then the patents on the list become a huge target for the FOSS community to dissect and prove prior work. M$ retains its strength by keeping those patents it thinks GNU/Linux infringes on secret until it litigates individual companies.