Microsoft teams with Linux distributor Xandros

[oz]

No... not another one!

Microsoft teams with Linux distributor Xandros | CNET News.com

[smolloy]

Weird. It seems that two major linux distributors (Novell and now Xandros) have accepted the MS line that there may be IP breaches. Xandros have had plenty of time to see how the MS-Novell deal affected Novell, so they must have seen something they liked -- something they liked enough to swallow the claim that linux breaches patents and that MS may start suing soon.

Is MS trying to get on board with all the major linux distributors to try to "tame" the open source community?

[oz]

I definitely think it's an attempt to gain some kind of control over Linux. Hopefully, there won't be too many that take the bait.

[MikeTbob]

Yeah, I'm gonna go to microsoft and sign up for an account, just so I can send them some friendly hate mail.
It doesn't sound like good news to me whether it's about the patents, IP infringment, or to gain a foothold in the OSS community.

[techieMoe]

I definitely think it's an attempt to gain some kind of control over Linux. Hopefully, there won't be too many that take the bait.

I don't think we have much to worry about. The only companies that have taken the bait so far are a minority: commercial Linux distributions. Even out of that sub-group not everyone has caved (Redhat and Canonical for instance).

The vast majority of Linux distributions do not belong to these groups, and even if they could afford to buy a deal like this from Microsoft, they'd have a heck of a time justifying it with all the members of their respective foundations.

[daark.child]

Weird. It seems that two major linux distributors (Novell and now Xandros) have accepted the MS line that there may be IP breaches. Xandros have had plenty of time to see how the MS-Novell deal affected Novell, so they must have seen something they liked -- something they liked enough to swallow the claim that linux breaches patents and that MS may start suing soon.

Is MS trying to get on board with all the major linux distributors to try to "tame" the open source community?

I wouldn't call Xandros a major distributor (I don't even know anyone who uses it). I also don't think there is much to worry about because this is all FUD. MS should try and sue a company like Redhat and all hell will break loose with regards to patents because Redhat and the OIN have a lot of their own patents which MS could be infringing.

[MikeTbob]

I think one of the biggest questions in this case is: Why is MS still signing patent deals, when GPLv3 explicitly forbids this type of agreement.
From Eweek.com Final GPLv3 Draft Provisions 'Good for Novell Customers'

On May 31, the Free Software Foundation released the fourth and final draft of GPL Version 3, referred to as the "final call" draft, which will be open for comments for 29 days. The final license will be released after that.

While the fourth draft says that distributors that make discriminatory patent deals after March 28 may not convey software under GPLv3, it does not stop Novell from distributing software under GPLv3 "because the patent protection they arranged with Microsoft last November can be turned against Microsoft to the community's benefit," FSF Executive Director Peter Brown said in a statement.

It seems like a waste of time, but then again, I am not a lawyer.

[Oxygen]

Because Linux is GPL 2.

[techieMoe]

I think one of the biggest questions in this case is: Why is MS still signing patent deals, when GPLv3 explicitly forbids this type of agreement.
From Eweek.com Final GPLv3 Draft Provisions 'Good for Novell Customers'


It seems like a waste of time, but then again, I am not a lawyer.

Well, keep in mind that not only is the GPL 3 still a draft, Linus Torvalds himself has said he's doubtful they'll even use it for the Linux kernel. Microsoft is looking to capitalize on the "what if" of questionable patents they may or may not sue over.

Torvalds: No GPL 3 for Linux | CNET News.com
Torvalds 'pretty pleased' about new GPL 3 draft | Tech news blog - CNET News.com

[Oxygen]

I believe I speak for everyone here when I say:

LINUX DOES NOT INFRINGE ON YOUR PATENTS, STOP SPREADING FUD!

That is all.