IBM And Sony Form Linux Alliance

An anonymous reader writes "CNN is reporting that IBM, Sony, and Philips are creating a Linux adoption group. Called the 'Open Invention Network', it is intended to protect vendors and customers from patent royalty fees while using OSS." From the article: "Patents owned by OIN will be available without payment of royalties to any company, institution or individual that agrees not to assert its patents against others who have signed a license with OIN, when using certain Linux-related software. Traditionally, patents have been pursued for two primary reasons -- to defend one's own intellectual property or for barter to trade in cross-licensing agreements to gain access to other companies' patents. OIN represents a new form of cross-licensing that its backers say could spur innovation. "

Makes sense

[level_headed_midwest]

Now Sony can make a Linux rootkit too!

Re:Potentially awesome

[Ryvar]

Close, but more of a burnt sienna [crayola.com].

--Ryv

Linux rootkit

[Anonymous Coward]

Sony just wants IBM's Linux knowledge to develop a better rootkit for their CDs.

Sony is an Equitable Partner

[Dareth]

They will provide "Root Kits" for any operating system!

Re:cost of a license

[goldspider]

My $699 Linux license protects me from things like GPL lawsuits, acts of God, and robot attacks. It sounds a bit steep at first, but SCO assures me it was money well spent!

Hooray for Sony!

[Slashcrap]

Oops, sorry. I seem to have mis-spelled "Fuck you Sony, you rootkit spreading scum suckers". The keys are right next to each other.

Wait I'm confused....

[Anonymous Coward]

Aren't we suppose to be hating Sony now?

(Go ahead and mod redundant, just like you did the FIRST POST that made this joke)

Re:A matter of trust...

[Jonny_eh]

Ya, they probably have really tense cross-department picnics.

I can just see the SCE guys going to eat the cake, and the Sony Music guys saying "You can't eat that until we say! It's copywritten!".

Oh well, I guess the moral is that Sony Music doesn't want you to have a cake and eat it too.

Linux Alliance?

[poningru]

Does that mean tux can yell out: LINUX ALLIANCE ASSSSEEEEEMBLEEE and have big blue and sony fly from the sky to fight crime?

Re:A matter of trust...

[vertinox]

Perhaps you are right. In the eyes of the law, a corporation is a single entity. I guess that people (myself included) also tend to think of it as a single entity.

Corporations are not sentient beings.

If they were, they'd be large 100 foot tall immortal beasts living off the blood of small children.

Re:Hooray for Sony!

[ms1234]

Some day slashdot comments are going to implode in a illogical paradox.

Re:A matter of trust...

[crazyjimmy]

To me, this is no different than HP.

If it's HP, and it's a printer, great.
If it's HP, and it's computers...well...RUN

I don't know how they do so great with one, and so damn poorly with the other.