Guy Fraser wrote:
Hi Guy -
From what I have read the items involved are :
Samba = Windows File Sharing
Mono = Programming Language compatible with .NET
OpenOffice = MS Office compatible productivity suite
.NET = Cruft {OOPS whas that my outside voice}
Windows Server = No Idea.
Yes but what bits of these projects? Microsoft can't stand up with a
patent about filesharing as a whole, when it was done many years before
they "had the idea". Nor can the idea of "wordprocessing" be patented
by them. Only specific chunks of specific projects are under any kind
of (unspoken) threat. So it's good to keep that in mind when reading
the FUD about "Linux" as a whole being under any kind of threat.
If MSFT are serious they will have to list where the problems are, then
action can be taken or at worst some specific functionality in a handful
of apps will be lost. Presumably they can't claim that RHAT were
appraised of any violation if they can't specify which patents and what
software because they are doing a SCO.
As well virtualization allowing MS and Linux to run at the same time on
the same hardware is part of the agreement. As far as I can tell this
just has to do with allowing limited contravention of the MS EULA and
nothing to do with Linux at all.
Microsoft has more to gain, by playing nice now, than going around
poking customers with sticks, and loosing them completely to Linux
solutions. All it takes to go from 60% to nothing is attacking your
customers. If customers are threatened they may very well move to
solutions that are devoid of any MS patents, and there are such
solutions for every item in the agreement. In many cases there are
much better products than what MS offers, and in cases where there is
not, if there is a demand, I am certain something can be created.
Yes, move away from MSFT influence because the natural question is:
"what the hell next!?!" from Microsoft. This kind of "there is no
option! You owe me! Do what I say or you will be punished!" behaviour
is like some brute abusing his wife.
Americans
Hopefully none of the software patent stuff will stand up in .eu? That
would be something.
-Andy
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