Upgrading to Firefox 2.0?

[Mike Kallies]

On 11/5/06, Lennart Sorensen <lsorense-1wCw9BSqJbv44Nm34jS7GywD8/FfD2ys at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> On Sun, Nov 05, 2006 at 12:25:14PM -0500, Mike Kallies wrote:
> > Any patent abuses would extend beyond SuSE and into all other distros.
> > The GPL and the Linux marketplace won't let MS use patents
> > destructively.
> >
> > Besides, not to imply that Microsoft is not evil, but does anyone have
> > any examples of Microsoft ever abusing their patent portfolio?  Or
> > even Microsoft using lawsuits aggressively?
>
> A few years ago they discovered they had a patent on something to do
> with FAT, so they started demanding royalties from digital camera makers
> and such.  I believe the patent was rather quickly found to be invalid
> and hence canceled.  They tried though.

I'm not so sure about that being frivilous.  Unnecessary maybe, but
they're using MS's filesystem...  The actual filesystem...  Complete
with the quirks and cruft and limitations.

Wasn't the patent upheld in January?
<http://news.com.com/Microsofts+file+system+patent+upheld/2100-1012_3-6025447.html>

This is actually a VERY good example of how MS can't impose patent
control on Linux.  If MS pursued Linux users for royalties to use the
FAT filesystem, two things would happen.

1. Linux copyright holders would slowly consider whether or not to
attack Linux distributors for copyright violations by distributing the
patent encumbured FAT code.  (good for Microsoft, bad for Linux)

1a.  Linux users wouldn't be *allowed* to pay for the use of the
patent without causing the distributor of their distro to be in
violation of copyright laws.

2. IBM, Oracle, and every other Linux business in existence would
launch an all out assault on every product MS ever produced.  MS
couldn't draw a line or click on a dropdown menu without facing a
Cease and Desist letter.

This is why I think MS has no power over GPL/LGPL'd code, even with the patents.

What I would watch for in the case of SuSE is dead-end development.
MS is interested in marketshare and profit, not software.  Their
enhancemnts to Linux will certainly reflect those interests and only
those interests.

MS wants money.  I'm not surprised they're interested in Linux.

-Mike
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