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Microsoft Charging Royalties For Linux

Posted by samzenpus on from the that-doesn't-seem-right dept.

andydread writes "It seems Microsoft's campaign to scare manufacturers away from open source and Linux in particular is proceeding at full force. The latest news is from Digitimes out of Taiwan. Apparently Microsoft is threatening Acer and Asustek with having to pay Microsoft a license fee for the privilege of deploying Linux on their devices. This time, it's in the form of Android and Chorme OS. So basically, this campaign is spreading to PC vendors now. What are the implications of this? Does this mean that if I build PCs with Linux (Ubuntu/ChromeOS/Fedora) and sell them I am at risk of getting sued by Microsoft? "

6 of 286 comments (clear)

  1. Blowback by symbolset · · Score: 5, Informative

    Apparently in completely unrelated news, Asus is deprecating Windows Phone 7. This even though Google totally cleaned Garmin's clock on the free navi thing.

    As always, Garmin-Asus seeks the best for our consumers either on Android platform or on Windows platform. However, we see the potential of Android platform devices, so we are focusing on Android platform currently. - Steven Tu

    Meanwhile Microsoft's VP, Corporate Communications Frank X. Shaw is over on Twitter right now trying to repair the damage done by today's CNN Money report. In case y'all want to wander over and lend him a hand.

    --
    Help stamp out iliturcy.
  2. Asus denies it by guyminuslife · · Score: 4, Informative

    Here.

    Terribly summary, by the way.

    --
    I don't believe in time. It's a grand conspiracy designed to sell watches.
  3. Re:Nicely twisted summary by wvmarle · · Score: 4, Informative

    Sorry to pull you back to the real world... any patent that has been issued and has not expired or invalidated, is valid. It's a simple as that.

    Whether you think it's a legitimate patentable invention doesn't matter. As long as the patent office thinks it is, then the patent will be issued. If you think it's not valid for whatever reason, you will have to ask a judge to invalidate it. And until they agree with you and invalidate the patent, it is valid.

  4. Re:Nicely twisted summary by weachiod · · Score: 5, Informative

    The whole story is bullshit too, as AsusTek has denied Microsoft asking for royalties.

  5. Re:Nicely twisted summary by the_womble · · Score: 5, Informative

    Actually, the patent for the wheel was granted in Australia

  6. Re:Nicely twisted summary by dna_(c)(tm)(r) · · Score: 4, Informative

    [...]patent license fees everyone else has already agreed are valid.

    Europe, India, China. I think most inhabitants of our planet still live in jurisdictions that would not recognize such a patent.