off:patent deals ?

[Mike McMullin]

On Thu, 2007-06-14 at 15:33 -0300, Derek Broughton wrote:
> Rick wrote:
> 
> > this is getting way out of hand,
> > "Linspire has signed a patent deal with Microsoft"
> > 
> > Because, they are afraid of MS 234 patent claims in linux.
> > MS has sign up 9 or 10 companies as of now, with this kind of tactic.
> > 
> > When is the Linux community going to stand up, and slap them down,
> > where they belong, because, if "WE" (linux) don't MS will have
> > a couple of dozen companies, under there patent don't sue us agreement,
> > Then they will file a law suit aginst, the other distro's
> 
> It's not something you get a chance to stand up for until the lawsuit.  SCO
> tried it, and it's come to nothing.  If MS gets as far as lawsuits, they'll
> have to sue some pretty big names, like IBM.

  More likely small to medium businesses who cannot afford a long term
protracted litigation which MicroSoft could easily wage.  Having won the
first suit, they would then have precedence on their side, and other
would fall into line.  Sadly a pre-emptive suit may well be the only to
deal with the situation.