Linspire/Microsoft Agreement Useless to Users 155
Stephen Samuel writes "Groklaw host PJ has dissected the 'patent peace' agreement between Linspire and Microsoft, and has determined that what Linspire agreed to is next to useless for many users. Essentially, under the agreement Linspire software is almost unusable: 'You can't share the software with others, pass it on with the patent promise, modify your own copy, or even use it for an "unauthorized" purpose, whatever that means in a software context. You must pay Linspire for the software, but then the "covenant" says to use Linux, you must also pay Microsoft. That payment doesn't cover upgrades. Linspire said it was absorbing the initial fees, but I don't know about upgrades. New functionality means you lose your coverage or presumably must pay again.'"
All I can say is... (Score:5, Funny)
Ah well (Score:3, Funny)
Re:SCO Deja Vu (Score:2, Funny)
MS is operating along the same lines. The assumption is that you owe Microsoft something for using Linux, ...
Using MS Windows for so many years is *why* I switched to Linux.
I guess I owe them for that. But now they want to charge you for it?
Ya gotta ask? (Score:3, Funny)
That's right. "My Computer." (Among others. Stop yer quibbling.)
Who owns that icon?
That's right. Microsoft.
Re:All I can say is... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Agreement useless to users? (Score:3, Funny)
Basically, Microsoft says "we won't sue Linspire users as long as they only do X, Y and Z".
Where X, Y and Z include paying Microsoft.