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Microsoft (Probably) Didn't Just Buy Unix

Posted by Soulskill on from the how's-that-for-definitive dept.

jfruhlinger writes "Word came down this morning that when Attachmate bought Novell, certain intellectual property rights were sold to a Microsoft-led consortium as part of the deal. Since Unix is the most valuable piece of IP Novell owns, there was a certain amount of panic that suddenly Redmond is in charge of this foundational technology for Linux and a number of other open source projects. But, while MS is being cagey, Brian Proffitt doubts that Unix was part of the IP package that was sold — and believes that Linux would be safe even if it were."

6 of 289 comments (clear)

  1. Re:What if.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    What if Novell sold them Unix, but didn't give them the root password?

    Linux would still make you gay.

  2. Re:What if.. by Squiddie · · Score: 0, Troll

    Stallman, maybe. The rest? Nope.

  3. Linux IS classified as a form of UNIX though... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    See my subject-line above, & this -> http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1998/09/08/BU85830.DTL&type=tech_article

    PERTINENT QUOTE/EXCERPT #1 of 2:

    "Linux is a form of Unix"

    and also this -> http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2006/02/letter_writers.html;jsessionid=ZVAVPXEVVZMITQE1GHRSKH4ATMY32JVN

    PERTINENT QUOTE/EXCERPT #2 of 2:

    "Unix as an operating system is not disappearing because of Linux. Linux is Unix"

    APK

    P.S.=> Well, "will wonders NEVER cease"... however: I have always wondered IF those are "official", & what-not, though... any takers? Thanks for the info., either way... apk

  4. Re:FUD parade continues on... by commodore64_love · · Score: 0, Troll

    Why can't the Linux community just develop a new operating system?
    i.e. Stop using unix.

    --
    "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
  5. Re:What really happened - OIN Emasculated by MichaelKristopeit198 · · Score: -1, Troll
    who is "our"?

    you are NOTHING

  6. Re:FUD parade continues on... by commodore64_love · · Score: 1, Troll

    >>>Otherwise, that statement would be considered incredibly stupid. If it was serious, perhaps Linux related threads aren't your cup of tea.

    Newbies reading this are probably thinking,
    "Why would I ever want to use Linux, if I will be labeled 'stupid' by its users?
    "I think I'll stick with Windows (or Mac) OS."

    Anyway I really did think Linux was a branch of Unix ("Unix like" says wikipedia). That makes me ignorant of the details, not stupid. If I was stupid I would not have two college degrees, or an above-average IQ, would I?

    --
    "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall