off:patent deals ?

[Michael]

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
>
> Ayone?
> Richard
>
>   
The problem as far as Ubuntu is concerned relates to February's deal to
incorporate Click'N'Run technology. According to the press release,
"Canonical plans to integrate aspects of the open source CNR technology
into Ubuntu's software management system starting with Ubuntu's Feisty
+1 release expected in October 2007".

If the repositories in question belong to Ubuntu then I doubt there's an 
issue, but if not, Ubuntu users will be employing a plugin *shipped by 
default* to install patent-bound fonts and codecs, and presumably 
agreeing to Microsoft EULAs for the privilege.

A Canonical employee I asked earlier today was completely in the dark 
regarding how CNR was going to be implemented in 7.10, so it'd be nice 
to have a bit of official enlightenment.

Michael