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.'"

North Korea

[MrEricSir]

I bet Kim Jung Il didn't license those "Linux patents" from Microsoft when he rolled out Red Star. Is that grounds for attacking North Korea?

Re:North Korea

[Ltap]

Maybe it's a job for the Microsoft ninjas.

Ninjas? Plural?

[spun]

You actually recommend using more than one ninja? Do you not understand the Inverse Ninja Law? [wikipedia.org] It's pretty simple. Watch any martial arts film. A single ninja, by himself, will kick the ass of anyone less than Chuck Norris. However, a group of ninjas will always be defeated. There is a conservation of Ninjutsu at work, the more ninjas, the less power each of them have. If you want the job done right, send only one ninja.

Re:Ninjas? Plural?

[Duhavid]

What if I send half a ninja? Will that half be even more powerful than one ninja?

Re:Ninjas? Plural?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes, children ninjas always escape unharmed and finishing their goal after a long, yet comic battle with the minions of evil.

Re:Ninjas? Plural?

[Grapes4Buddha]

Exactly. Personally, I think that this makes complete sense. Ninjas have a reputation for being invisible when they attack. It stands to reason that you would be guaranteed success by sending a vanishingly small portion of a ninja. Of course, you couldn't send no ninja. But maybe a homeopathic quantity of ninja-essence?

Re:Ninjas? Plural?

[Dorkmaster Flek]

You could try to send no ninja, but you'd get a divide by zero error when calculating the Inverse Ninja Law.

I have in my possession . . . .

[Hasai]

". . . . the names of 57 patent violations that are in the Linux kernel at present."

        ~The Manchurian Candidate, the remake, starring Steve Ballmer.

Re:Bzzzt...incomplete meme

[spun]

This is Chuck Norris we're talking about. He just tosses the nuke at the mosquito, he doesn't need to be in orbit. About all a nuke would do is give Chuck a nice tan.

Re:MS's plans to overtake Linux

[maugle]

Hmm? How did you miss that whole SCO thing that was going on a few years back?