IO Data Licenses Microsoft's "Linux Patents" 197
Posted
by
kdawson
from the bigger-than-we-are dept.
from the bigger-than-we-are dept.
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.'"
Free money. (Score:5, Insightful)
Soprano style (Score:5, Insightful)
I might be holding a club behind my back. Should I choose to begin swinging this club, which I may or may not have, I can guarantee that I will not strike you with it, for a small fee.
Microsoft is... (Score:5, Insightful)
A mean bunch of bastards for claiming patents and not disclosing any kind of infringement. But the ones that buy into the scam, man, those are PLAIN IDIOTS.
Why is the Linux community so quiet? (Score:5, Insightful)
I don't understand why the Linux developers are so quiet about this. Microsoft is building up a huge amount of momentum around the idea that Linux violates some arbitrary patents, and not a single Linux developer or company appears willing to call them out on it. Bizarre.
Re:Microsoft is... (Score:5, Insightful)
They probably figured that it would cost more time and money fighting these patent claims by MS than it would licensing bogus patents. If that's true, then it is clear that our patent system ought to be done away with entirely.
Re:Soprano style (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Soprano style (Score:5, Insightful)
This is the year 2010. Now its called "licensing".
Re:FFS! What patents !!!! (Score:3, Insightful)
I always find the 'imaginary patents' or similar lines hilarious as it assumes that Microsoft walks in and says "In this sealed envelope that you may not open or see, we have a list of patents that you are infringing on... you should license them."
Each and every company who gets involved in such a licensing deal knows full well what they are getting into and exactly what they are licensing... and if not, they probably should fire their entire legal staff who said they should go ahead with the licensing deal without knowing just what they are getting out of the deal.
Re:Any word on what patents? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Why is the Linux community so quiet? (Score:1, Insightful)
Software and business method patents are plain stupid. Does any other country allow them?
Kill software and business mathod patents NOW.
Re:Microsoft is... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:FFS! What patents !!!! (Score:2, Insightful)
Or they are actually taking money from Microsoft on the back end in a underhanded bid by an underhanded convicted monopolist to establish a right to licensing fees as a way to stifle competition. See for an example the Novel SUSE license certificates MS bought as a result of the Novel deal. Basically since we can't see the terms of the deals that could be happening in each and every case. Microsoft or some investment firm they have a stake in makes and investment (payoff) in these companies. They basically did that through Bay Capital as a way to fund SCO indirectly.
Make no mistake this is typical MS dirty deeds and the whole point is to stifle legitimate REAL competition which as is usually the case they can't abide. And so MS will use every dirty underhanded trick they can to destroy or marginalize OSS. They are bastards and never EVER to be trusted to be sure.
Re:Soprano style (Score:3, Insightful)
Which patents? By using the definite article, you were asserting that there are specific patents involved. So far, nobody including Microsoft has come up with any patent numbers.
Without knowing what patents are allegedly being infringed, it's all FUD, and the whole thing looks uncomfortably like extortion.
Re:Soprano style (Score:3, Insightful)
Microsoft may or may not be entitled to the money. If they hold the patents, and are NOT enforcing the patents nor disclosing the infringing products, even though it has all the evidence it needs (source code to all things OSS), then it is "Extorting" because it is NOT entitled to the money.
Why would this not be fraud?
Re:Soprano style (Score:1, Insightful)
Extortion is demanding money with menaces - plain and simple.
If Microsoft are going to companies and saying you are infringing our patents, give us money or we will sue - that is extortion.
Now, if they proved you were infringing by naming the patents then it is not extortion, but the fact that they stop you from discussing the deal afterwards by signing a non-disclosure agreement kinda shows that they are demanding money with menaces!
Re:Why is the Linux community so quiet? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:North Korea (Score:3, Insightful)
Nothing wrong with a fair exchange which increases value for all parties concerned.
Re:FFS! What patents !!!! (Score:2, Insightful)
Have you not realized that by not publically disclosing the list... Microsoft actually saves the FOSS community a lot of heart-ache and pain?
Rubbish. M$ isn't saving any one. If M$ puts out the list of infringing patents, then the patents on the list become a huge target for the FOSS community to dissect and prove prior work. M$ retains its strength by keeping those patents it thinks GNU/Linux infringes on secret until it litigates individual companies.
Re:Why is the Linux community so quiet? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Free money. (Score:4, Insightful)
Most likely Microsoft is paying friendly companies, as it paid Novell. The goal is to establish credibility for its "Linux patents" so that it can then attack its real enemies and convince a judge that since many other firms licensed these patents, they are valid. It's a fairly standard way of working.
The targets of these patents are most likely (a) Google, (b) Red Hat, and (c) large firms who are migrating their data centers to Linux. "Nice data center you have here, guv. Shame if something nasty, like errr... patents... were to 'appen to it. Can I interest you in this 'ere patent license? Only a thousand quid a day, guv!"