All Things Microsoft > Microsoft as a Company
MS exec rattles sabre, suggests Linux could infringe patents
TB:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/28155.html
Another pathetic attempt by M$ to draw attention to itself with headlines......not to mention a pathetic attack on Linux. To be honest, this article is just hot air but I'll cut + paste it for everyone's benefit:
The CEO of Microsoft Israel has played the FUD card against Linux, raising doubts about the provenance of the intellectual property in the software, and advising potential customers to seek indemnification from the supplier in the event of patent infringement.
Or at least we think that's what Arie Scope said in an article here last week. If your Hebrew is enough to get you past the registration page you'll no doubt be able to cope with the whole piece, which provides a response to open source initiatives in Israel. These include proposed legislation on the use of GPL software by the government.
In the article, Scope says: "IBM is not developing its own version of the Linux OS. Rather than that it distributes Red Hat's version and clears itself from any liability in case the customer changes the code. I advise organizations to review the licensing agreement of Red Hat distributed by IBM, and ask the company for legal protection if it turns out that the OS infringes patents."
It's not entirely uncommon, one might observe, for suppliers of systems to deny responsibility if the customer breaks stuff through fiddling with the software, but that's probably not what Scope means. Effectively he's trying to raise doubts about IBM's long-term commitment to Linux, and to the customers it supplies Advanced Server to.
The IP issue has more edge to it, because major business customers do have concerns about IP issues with Linux, particularly because Linux distributors have historically been small companies who'd have difficulty indemnifying them should they be subject to legal action. Why they should be, or why Linux distributions should be any more at risk in this area than, say, Windows 2000 Advanced Server, is not entirely clear. But they worry, nevertheless.
Scope is therefore turning his guns on a Linux distributor that does have resources, IBM, and suggesting customers demand it backs its sales force with its wallet. Just like Microsoft does? One does wonder. One also wonders whether a lawsuit against Red Hat Advanced Server might just be sitting in a silo near Redmond, waiting for someone to push the button...
Yep...........nothin but FUD. And not just any FUD, we're talking Grade A USDA approved FUD. What I find so hilarious about this guy Scope is his total lack of coherence. Well I guess that's how we know he's a genuine Microsoft executive.
[ November 19, 2002: Message edited by: TB ]
voidmain:
Ahhh, Zombie is now CEO of Microsoft Israel I see.
slave:
As much anti-Microsoft bias that The Register tends to exhibit, all I can say here is puh-lease. Intellectual property? Give my a break! If there's one idea I hate it's the idea that someone can have the "right" to control what other people draw, code, write, or say, just because someone else claims to have "ownership" of ideas. IP is just used to stifle innovation and exploit others. And the *only* reason anyone likes IP is because it is used to make a profit, and I don't believe something created for the sole purpose of making money can be a good thing. The idea that the "rights" of an author outweigh the rights of the entire world is just ludicrous. I swear if aliens came to Earth one day and saw the way we did things where we hoarded our ideas from each other jealously instead of cooperating and sharing ideas they would be pretty disappointed. Why is it that on children's TV shows we're always taught the importance of sharing and cooperation but in the business world it seems to be the exact opposite. Did none of these corporate dudes watch Sesame Street?
Also, the US patent office has its head so far up its ass it can see what it ate last Wednesday. They are *not* competent at making fair patents when it comes to software.
Don't be gay, Microsoft! Fight linux legit, not by bringing in some nonsensical expert terminology like "(non)intellectual property!"
The preceding comments are (C) Copyright 2002 Windows XP User. All rights reserved. No part of this writing may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transcribed, in any form or by any means -- electronic (that includes storing it in your brain so you better have poor memory or I'll have to come over to your house and whack your head until you forget!) mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise -- without the prior written permission of Windows XP User Enterprises.
[ November 20, 2002: Message edited by: Windows XP User #5225982375 ]
voidmain:
Throw that man (XP User) another star!
Doctor V:
quote:Originally posted by Windows XP User #5225982375:
As much anti-Microsoft bias that The Register tends to exhibit, all I can say here is puh-lease. Intellectual property? Give my a break! If there's one idea I hate it's the idea that someone can have the "right" to control what other people draw, code, write, or say, just because someone else claims to have "ownership" of ideas. IP is just used to stifle innovation and exploit others. And the *only* reason anyone likes IP is because it is used to make a profit, and I don't believe something created for the sole purpose of making money can be a good thing. The idea that the "rights" of an author outweigh the rights of the entire world is just ludicrous. I swear if aliens came to Earth one day and saw the way we did things where we hoarded our ideas from each other jealously instead of cooperating and sharing ideas they would be pretty disappointed. Why is it that on children's TV shows we're always taught the importance of sharing and cooperation but in the business world it seems to be the exact opposite. Did none of these corporate dudes watch Sesame Street?
Also, the US patent office has its head so far up its ass it can see what it ate last Wednesday. They are *not* competent at making fair patents when it comes to software.
Don't be gay, Microsoft! Fight linux legit, not by bringing in some nonsensical expert terminology like "(non)intellectual property!"
The preceding comments are (C) Copyright 2002 Windows XP User. All rights reserved. No part of this writing may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transcribed, in any form or by any means -- electronic (that includes storing it in your brain so you better have poor memory or I'll have to come over to your house and whack your head until you forget!) mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise -- without the prior written permission of Windows XP User Enterprises.
[ November 20, 2002: Message edited by: Windows XP User #5225982375 ]
--- End quote ---
Sounds about right. M$ will never fight anyone legit and never have. They have always, and will always use whatever perfidious measure thay can to prevent fair play.
They are the champions of Intellectual Property. They are currently in the process of making a DRMOS (that they already patented as a 'DRMOS') whose sole purpose is to protect and enforce the Intellectual Property copyrights as to the wishes of the copyright holders even where it prevents legal uses for customers. And they'll say its for security.
Keep in mind that agreeing to the EULA in XP gives M$ the right to upgrade your XP to Longhorn and later to Palladium from remote. So you never have to choose to buy either or the 'upgrades', they will be put on your system automatically.
And I remember your saying:
quote:Originally posted by Windows XP User #5225982375:
Go DRM! Go Palladium!
--- End quote ---
All DRM is is a mechanism for enforcing those very Intellectual Property copyrights. Its your choice wether to agree with and support IP/DRM or not, but you do have to face this undeniable fact: If you choose not to support it, your going to eventually have to stop using windows.
I think its time for you to give up on windows and use Linux. If you're going to do it eventually, there's not reason not to switch now. Become Linux user #5225982375.
V
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