RSSMicrosoft Steps Up Open Source Battle
By Ed Oswald | Published May 22, 2007, 3:28 PM
Microsoft continued its battle against open source on Tuesday with the release of yet another company-funded study showing that developers believe the next version of GPL shouldn't cover patent deals.
This latest study was performed by the Harvard Business School, and found that developers would rather have GPLv3 stay out of the deal regulation business. Perhaps not coincidentally, the study comes a week after Microsoft claimed that open source software violates 235 patents.
The study is based on a very small sample of only 34 respondents. Researchers sent out some 332 questionnaires, but a scant 11 percent responded, according to eWEEK. Some Microsoft watchers are puzzled by Redmond's latest moves.
"I'm stunned that after taking a number of seemingly positive steps vis-a-vis its thinking and strategy around open source, Microsoft has decided to blow away any bridges it built in a matter of weeks," long time Microsoft pundit Mary Jo Foley opined.
She noted that Microsoft's threat to sue had backfired, and pointed to a website that lists over 300 open source supporters that are openly asking Microsoft to sue them over alleged patent infringement.
Microsoft is now in a tough predicament. Either it must stick to its guns, or attempt to back off and sweep what could become a public relations disaster under the rug.
Others are echoing Foley's concerns. "Microsoft perceives risks with how GPLv3 treats intellectual property. The playing field isn't level, though. There is no similiar mechanism for Microsoft licensing," Joe Wilcox, writer for Microsoft Watch, told BetaNews.
"Microsoft gets the say, with modest input from its largest customers."
I like this very much, imagine the possibilities :D Somewhat reminds me of Star Trek ;)
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I stop reading these articles at "another company-funded study."
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"MS didn't create the PC industry, they just make it easy for the rest of us" yep, that's right
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iPhone
http://www.iphonetools.org/
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Makes you want to run out and support MS's new open office and open filesystem format initiatives, doesn't it! After all, MS is your friend! LOL!
Listening to MS and their support for open standards is like asking the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz for directions.
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This is akin to another "SCO sues IBM" debacle?
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so if open source uses other peoples patents then it's not really open source.
Be sure to NEVER use a Apple patent. since if you add the 'i' infront of a product you will get sued.
Guess what.. alot of us would not have jobs if it wasn't for microsoft creating the PC industry!
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"if it wasn't for microsoft creating the PC industry!"
One wonders just what you do in this robust industry if you are under the amazing notion that "MS creat(ed) the PC industry!"
Watch out, with reasoning skills like that, your job will soon be off-shored or a robot will be doing it.
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Frighteningly naive comment. Shall I correct thee?
1. There is NO patent on "i" anything. It would be a trademark, if anything. And, no, Apple does not own a trademark on "i" prefix on anything/everything, only specific things and classes thereof.
2. Only Microsoft is claiming patent infringement. Nobody else is jumping on board with them. Let's wait for the courts to decide, ok?
3. IBM created the "PC" industry. And then gave it away. However, they didn't invent the "personal computer" concept.
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MS didn't create the PC industry, they just make it easy for the rest of us. You can say MS is the one who blossom the industry.
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sorry ski, there are myriad products out there that have the "i" at the beginning of their names. ifoxsoft comes to mind as does "iFilm". Do a google search and see what pops up, they are too many to list here. I don't believe Apple is suing them for it, in fact it gives Apple a modicum of free advertising doesn't it? Also, since the first true home computers were created by Atari, Apple (Apple II) and Tandy Corp (Radio Shack) I doubt if Microsoft could be called the "creator of the PC industry". Do some research before sticking your foot in your mouth.
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In 1990 IBM was a world giant, but MS was still unknown. Then Mr Gates struck gold. It's thanks to MS that all the people became user of a computer. MS had the world in their hands. But they took profit of many others efforts, one of its consequences being their first defeat: they had to stop providing Windows 98 SE. In 2007 many users are not “naive” any more, and know that the important thing are the utilities they run and not the OS itself. Nobody upgrades only to please MS. IMHO their worst enemy is the foreseeable "revival" of their abandoned products.
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Ultimately this all looks like yet another cardboard ad glued in a magazine. Irritating. In the way. Ready to be torn out and discarded. Who cares.
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As wrong as it is for Microsoft to be spreading false rumors such as this, even worse is the childish reaction of the open-source community. Sue Me First List? Give me a break.
Both Microsoft and the Open-Source community need to grow up.
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"False rumors" about what?
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Microsoft is never going after IBM. They may be stupid, but nobody is that stupid. The patent numbers just don't add up. IBM probably has more patents than anyone else.
There will be no "showdown". This is a lose-lose situation for MS. MS has stepped in the crap and now they have to clean their shoes.
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"Microsoft is never going after IBM. They may be stupid, but nobody is that stupid."
Not that stupid eh? I believe that has yet to be determined. I think Microsoft, the RIAA , and Sony are in a pissing match to see who can f**k up the worst.
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Microsoft indicated for a long time that linux and open-source was an inferior code. Now they are claiming that it breaches patents. The fact is that Microsoft does not accept the fact that healthy competition is a healthy thing no only for the consumer who will be paying lower prices but for something more important and that is creativity. This is a case of "Goliath fearing David".
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oh boy! The table is set for an interesting showdown!
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Microsoft is an illegal monopoly and should be broken up under the Sherman Antitrust Act. Hopefully the DOJ will get back on track once Bush leaves office.
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Don't be retarded... competition is thriving in the market today between various flavors of Linux and Apple... nevermind that Vista is Millennium Edition 2.0.
If you want to point out how stupid Microsoft is for their foolish patent attack on Open-Source, then by all means, but stop beating a long dead horse.
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What kind of numbers are we talking here?
In all seriousness, how do you even begin to think that the current situation could be even considered as "thriving competetion". Seems to me thats its the same thing still, Windows "owns" everything else by a overwhelming margin. No?
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Competition ....ah ha ha ha. It's more like Microsoft dominating with Apple and Opensource doing the sad eye thing begging for the crumbs.
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"Seems to me thats its the same thing still, Windows "owns" everything else by a overwhelming margin. No? "
So? People are just choosing MS, but they do have a choice. Apple has gained some market share, Linux has gained some market share, but because MS is the leader it's not legal?
With reasoning like that, any industry that has has a company with significantly more market share then others would be illegal.
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Microsoft is so obsessed with trashing open source software and Linux that it makes me think there's something there.... Whoop, there it is — it's better! Microsoft just needs to grow up and cut this childish and bogus "annual anti-Linux survey" crap out. This act was tired years ago.
Anything that comes with the label "Microsoft-funded" should come with the following disclaimer: Ignore.
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for your information sucka, A SINGLE USER DOESNT EVEN KNOW ABOUT OPEN SOURCE SO THAT'S WHAT MICROSOFT IS TRYING TO KILL YOU STUPID @SS
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wow carlox you r0ck that was extremely kewl
nope it wasnt LOL :D
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Ouch, you hurt my feelings, ha! Man, you Microsofties sure get riled over your own lies. Must be the conservative streak in your DNA.
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Wow. MS has actually lost its ****in mind... Amazing..!
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Nobody with any brains is believing this BS any more. FUD is FUD. Period.
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"She noted that Microsoft's threat to sue had backfired, and pointed to a website that lists over 300 open-source supporters that are openly asking Microsoft to sue them over alleged patent infringement."
http://digitaltippingpoi...me_first_Microsoft_list
Just posting this for those that want to peruse it. I do not suggest putting your name on the list. From a legal standpoint, if Microsoft actually does have something here, it could seriously backfire to the tune of your livelihood.
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Oh how I long for Sam Palmisano to sign up to that list ...
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I doubt IBM could care less. This won't touch them, and on the off chance that it does, they have a bevy of lawyers just waiting to jump all over it.
There's no real reason for IBM to bait MS right now.
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> and on the off chance that it does, they have a bevy of lawyers just waiting to jump all over it.
That's the reason for my longing ;)
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Fud king should put a sock in it till we see ONE lawsuit.
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Thank you so much for your input. It is so very appreciated. I will definitely take this into consideration and feel so honored you've taken the time out of your busy kindergarten class schedule to make this insightful and poignant rebuttal.
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You're welcome. Another bit of advice, keep it pithy.
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And in other news, Microsoft is still twisting in the wind.
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