MS chief threatens Linux sellers
p2pnet.net news:- Microsoft second in command Steve Ballmer has again threatened Linux sellers.
Repeating earlier assertions that open source “is not free,” he was, “referring to the possibility that Microsoft may sue Linux sellers,” says CNET News, going on:
“Microsoft has suggested that the Linux operating system infringes some of its intellectual property, but it has never named the patents in question.”
Bill and the Boyz recently struck a patent cooperation deal with Novell and, “I would not anticipate that we make a huge additional revenue stream from our Novell deal, but I do think it clearly establishes that open source is not free, and open source will have to respect the intellectual-property rights of others, just as any other competitor will,” the story has Ballmer stating.
Meanwhile, Red Hat boss Matthew Szulik, “urged his customers to use up their open-source coupons from the Microsoft-Novell partnership,” says the story. “These coupons entitle them to support and maintenance for Novell’s Suse Linux Enterprise Server,” he said, adding:
“We certainly expect that there will be those cases where customers will consume those coupons,” Szulik said. “We’re certainly encouraging one or two customers to consume all of them; let’s get this over with.”
Ballmer’s remarks came during a “no-nonsense presentation to New York financial analysts last Thursday,” says CNET.
Also See:
CNET News – Ballmer repeats threats against Linux, February 20, 2007
patent cooperation deal – Microsoft / Novell deal timeline, January 28, 2007
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Tired of being treated like a criminal? They depend on you, not the other way around. Don’t buy their ‘product’. Do bug your local politicians. Use emails, snail-mail, phone calls, faxes, IM, stop them in the street, blog. And if you’re into organizing, organize petitions, organize demonstrations and then turn up on your local political rep’s doorstep, making sure you’ve contacted your local tv/radio station/newspaper in advance. Don’t just complain. Do something!
February 21st, 2007 at 12:06 pm
“Microsoft has suggested that the Linux operating system infringes some of its intellectual property, but it has never named the patents in question.”
Why does “SCO” suddenly spring to mind?
February 21st, 2007 at 1:32 pm
The party is over and they know it. Steve is well know for talking no-sense.
Put it or shut up. Or are you scared Steve of a sleeping giant called IBM will the sue Microsoft out of business!
I promise you if Microsoft wants a patent war they can have one, but open source has big funds then you ever have Microsoft.
February 21st, 2007 at 6:04 pm
All of this suing is from an old dinosaur in its death throes. This same thing also applies to the so called entertainment industry. Both monopolies are being made irrelevant by customer generated software and content. The days of people having to put up with the DRM restricted, overpriced and under performing product are over. Since the big boys will not give customers what they want, customers are providing it themselves.
It is too bad that this has to happen because big entertainment and big software has much more resources to develop new products than say the average garage studio or software hacker. However, rather than release innovative new products at prices customers are willing to pay, big entertainment and big software instead choose to spend their resources in choking out customer produced product.
The same thing is happening with the telecommunications companies. No longer can they force everyone who uses long distance calling to pay exorbitant rates. Voice over IP will and is providing telecommunications much cheaper and in many cases free. Two sites below provide information on how to do this:
http://www.voipbuster.com
http://www.gizmoproject.com
The drug and medical cartels are beginning to see the squeeze from herbal medicine (which is effective in treating and curing many maladies). I hope to see more garage and basement researchers come up with new and innovative remedies for curing diseases. I cannot remember the name of the family that did this, but one did so to bring an end to their son’s suffering, since the drug companies were not interested in finding treatment for the kids rare disease. After months and months of research, the family was able to produce a remedy. This is how monopolies will be broken, customers working together to provide products for themselves at reasonable prices. The RIAA, MPAA, BSA, Microsoft, and many others are finding out the hard way that they cannot continue to screw those they depend on and not expect there to be a backlash.
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:40 pm
It such sham MS lost these case, lol.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6388273.stm