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| Thread ID: 79283 | 2007-05-15 00:59:00 | Oh..Grow Up, Ballmer! | SurferJoe46 (51) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 549905 | 2007-05-15 00:59:00 | Microsoft claims that free and open-source software violates 235 of its patents, according to a magazine report published Sunday. In an interview with Fortune, Microsoft top lawyer Brad Smith alleges that the Linux kernel violates 42 Microsoft patents, while its user interface and other design elements infringe on a further 65. OpenOffice.org is accused of infringing 45, along with 83 more in other free and open-source programs, according to Fortune. It is not entirely clear how Microsoft might proceed in enforcing these patents, but the company has been encouraging large tech companies that depend on Linux to ink patent deals, starting with its controversial pact with Novell last November. Microsoft has also cited Linux protection playing a role in recent patent swap deals with Samsung and Fuji Xerox. Microsoft has also had discussions but not reached a deal with Red Hat, as noted in the Fortune article. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is also quoted in the article as saying Microsoft's open-source competitors need to "play by the same rules as the rest of the business." "What's fair is fair," Ballmer told Fortune. "We live in a world where we honor, and support the honoring of, intellectual property." (Tell me another one, Ballmer!) The story notes that some big tech proponents of open source have been stockpiling intellectual property as part of the Open Invention Network, set up in 2005 by folks like Sony, Red Hat, IBM, NEC and Philips. The article surmises that if Microsoft were to go after open source, these companies' combined know-how might give it some patent weapons to go after Windows. A Microsoft representative did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment. news.zdnet.com |
SurferJoe46 (51) | ||
| 549906 | 2007-05-15 02:48:00 | Microsoft claims that free and open-source software violates 235 of its patents, Bit of a luagh really. What did Microsoft ever create themselves? |
pctek (84) | ||
| 549907 | 2007-05-15 03:07:00 | Oh come on, let's not forget Microsoft Bob (en.wikipedia.org) | Biggles (121) | ||
| 549908 | 2007-05-15 03:40:00 | A Counter-salvo: Gutierrez and Microsoft aren’t interested in intellectual property rights . They’re not interested in allowing the Open Source world to defend itself . They’re not interested in a fair fight . Like a bully, they refuse to face the Open Source world in a fair fight, instead hinting at willful infringement and making backhanded threats . Why? Like any bully they fear that when faced with a fair fight in the light of day they will be revealed for the bully they are . Like any bully they fear that which they threaten . . typepad . com/lma/2007/05/its_time_for_mi . html" target="_blank">lmaugustin . typepad . com Microsoft is and has always been completely committed to global domination . They don't play fair, everything they do has some kind of sinister intent behind it . Their only objective it to position themselves to control everything and make everyone completely dependent on them . That is the danger of a monopoly . Without any competition they are in a position threaten anyone they please with extortion, Corporations, Politicians, Governments, etc . This is eventually headed for a showdown, there is either going to be intellectual freedom or there is going to be a locked down police state of patents and copyright infringement to the point that no one will be able to do anything without fear of winding up in court for infringing on something that someone else claims to already own . |
SurferJoe46 (51) | ||
| 549909 | 2007-05-15 05:40:00 | Bit of a luagh really. What did Microsoft ever create themselves? Nothing useful. |
winmacguy (3367) | ||
| 549910 | 2007-05-15 05:54:00 | Oh come on, let's not forget Microsoft Bob (en.wikipedia.org) Oh yes. Not that anyone would want to copy or steal that.....:p |
pctek (84) | ||
| 549911 | 2007-05-15 06:09:00 | Oh yes . Not that anyone would want to copy or steal that . . . . . :p Or actually use it . Also, no matter how much a product designed and built by Microsoft fails to gain market share, they will go to great lengths in the mis guided belief that one day they will succeed . . . by version 3 and billions of $$$ down the toilet . If there is one thing Microsoft hates with a passion, it is when "potential" customers make a non Microsoft choice when they buy their portable music player . Here is proof Microsoft delves further into manufacturing with Zune plant SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Microsoft Corp . , a colossus built on software, is making a new push in hardware manufacturing by building a factory in China to produce its Zune media player . The factory will produce a second iteration of the Zune, which has so far failed to impress in its effort to compete with Apple Inc . 's popular iPod . The second iteration of Zune will include a number of different versions with varying prices and degrees of storage capacity, according to Jason Reindorp, Microsoft's marketing director for Zune, although he declined to offer specifics . Web sites that follow the device have reported rumors that the newest versions of the Zune will be thinner and will include some smaller-capacity Flash-based players, similar to the popular iPod nano . The original Zune, released in November, was produced using a framework and components provided by Toshiba Corp . Reindorp said the company hopes that by taking a more direct role in manufacturing a second version, it will help the device gain popularity . Competing with Apple's expertise Microsoft's new, hands-on approach to building the Zune may help it compete with the iPod, according to Gartner Inc . analyst Michael McGuire . "In theory, it could get them that set of systems in place and strategic vision to approach what Apple's been able to do," McGuire said . However, McGuire also cautioned that Microsoft faces big challenges in manufacturing the second version of the Zune . He says Apple's iPod has benefited from manufacturing experience built up at the company during years of designing and manufacturing its personal computers and other products . . marketwatch . com/news/story/microsoft-delves-further-manufacturing-zune/story . aspx?guid=%7B50793962%2D8F9A%2D4CBA%2DB00D%2" target="_blank">www . marketwatch . com D08D7E292AD5D%7D&dist=TQP_Mod_mktwN |
winmacguy (3367) | ||
| 549912 | 2007-05-15 10:16:00 | Oh come on, let's not forget Microsoft Bob (en.wikipedia.org) You forgot Clippy. Surfer you must have missed my thread. |
mikebartnz (21) | ||
| 549913 | 2007-05-15 10:39:00 | You forgot Clippy. Surfer you must have missed my thread. Something Microsoft actually created that annoyed more people than it helped :rolleyes: |
winmacguy (3367) | ||
| 549914 | 2007-05-15 17:14:00 | Clippy? Guess I did...do you mean the stoooopid paper clip with the bad attitude? I swear I'm gonna sue Mr. Bill for the chips on my CRT screens. | SurferJoe46 (51) | ||
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