off:patent deals ?

[Rick]

On Thursday 14 June 2007 3:36:41 pm Mike McMullin wrote:
> 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.

Agreed... this is why MS needs a major slap, because, they feel they can,
and you CAN'T.

Richard