Hyman Rosen wrote: > > On 3/23/2010 6:08 PM, RJack wrote: > > List all the patents nullified by the GPLv3 as of 3/23/2010: > > There probably will never be any. The point was to > prevent the release of ostensibly free software whose > freedom would subsequently be restricted by the releaser > through the assertion of patent claims. > > > Microsoft released this statement in order to take the > > heat off Novell's co-operating with them in July 2007. > > Yes. Causing that heat was part of the motivation for > creating GPLv3.
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2010/mar10/03-03iodatapr.mspx "REDMOND, Wash., and KANAZAWA, Japan March 3, 2010 Microsoft Corp. and I-O Data Device Inc. have entered into an agreement that will provide I-O Datas customers with patent coverage for their use of I-O Datas products running Linux and other related open source software. Specifically, the patent covenants apply to I-O Datas network-attached storage devices and its routers, which run Linux. Although the details of the agreement have not been disclosed, the parties indicated that Microsoft is being compensated by I-O Data. Were pleased to reach this agreement with I-O Data, said David Kaefer, general manager of Intellectual Property Licensing at Microsoft. Microsoft has a strong track record of collaboration with companies running Linux-based offerings, and this agreement is a reflection of our commitment to partner with industry leaders around the world. This patent agreement is an extension of the strong relationship between Microsoft and I-O Data in both the consumer and enterprise markets. The companies recently worked together on a Windows 7 marketing campaign, and I-O Data released one of the industrys first Windows 7 API-based sensors, which automatically detects when a person enters or leaves an office or room. Microsofts Commitment to IP Collaboration This patent agreement is another example of the important role that intellectual property (IP) plays in ensuring a healthy and vibrant IT ecosystem. Since Microsoft launched its IP licensing program in December 2003, the company has entered into more than 600 agreements and continues to develop programs that make it possible for customers, partners and competitors to access its IP portfolio. The program was developed to open access to Microsofts significant research and development investments and its growing, broad patent and IP portfolio. In recent years, Microsoft has entered into patent agreements with other leading companies that use Linux for their embedded devices, including Brother International Corp., Fuji Xerox Co. Ltd., Kyocera Mita Corp., LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and TomTom International BV. More information about Microsofts licensing programs is available at . About I-O Data Device Inc. Founded in 1976, I-O Data Device Inc., based in Kanazawa, Japan, is a leading provider of peripheral devices for personal computers and digital consumer electronics. For more information about I-O Data Device and its products, please visit www.iodata.com. About Microsoft Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsofts Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx. " http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2010/02/microsoft-amazon-patent-deal-covers-kindle-linux.ars "Microsoft-Amazon patent deal covers Kindle, Linux By Emil Protalinski | Last updated February 22, 2010 8:47 PM Microsoft and Amazon.com have signed a wide-ranging patent cross-licensing agreement that provides each company with access to the other's patent portfolio. Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but it was made clear that Amazon will be paying Microsoft an undisclosed amount of money as part of the arrangement. While Microsoft wouldn't say which of its products and technologies Amazon is interested in, Microsoft did mention that Amazon's Kindle, which employs open source and proprietary software components, as well as Amazon's use of Linux-based servers are covered. Neither company would officially disclose why the deal was struck today. "We are pleased to have entered into this patent license agreement with Amazon.com," Horacio Gutierrez, Microsoft's corporate vice president and deputy general counsel for Intellectual Property and Licensing, said in a statement. "Microsoft's patent portfolio is the largest and strongest in the software industry, and this agreement demonstrates our mutual respect for intellectual property as well as our ability to reach pragmatic solutions to IP issues regardless of whether proprietary or open source software is involved." It's possible that Amazon agreed to signing the deal to avoid patent-infringement lawsuits from Microsoft. The mention of Kindle and Linux is not likely to be coincidental: the software giant has put extensive work into tablets and e-readers of various form factors and has previously claimed that Linux infringes on its patented technologies, although it has never specified which patents it believes the Linux stack and kernel violate (the software giant did sue GPS maker TomTom over the FAT file format). The companies may have decided to shake hands in these areas but their biggest competitive space will likely remain the cloud: Windows Azure versus Amazon EC2. Microsoft says it has reached more than 600 licensing agreements since launching its intellectual-property licensing program in December 2003. Further reading Microsoft and Amazon.com Sign Patent Agreement (microsoft.com) " http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2010/feb10/02-22MSAmazonPR.mspx "REDMOND, Wash. Feb. 22, 2010 Microsoft Corp. today announced that it has signed a patent cross-license agreement with Amazon.com Inc. The agreement provides each company with access to the others patent portfolio and covers a broad range of products and technology, including coverage for Amazons popular e-reading device, Kindle, which employs both open source and Amazons proprietary software components, and Amazons use of Linux-based servers. Although specific terms of the agreement are confidential, Microsoft indicated that Amazon.com will pay Microsoft an undisclosed amount of money under the agreement. We are pleased to have entered into this patent license agreement with Amazon.com, said Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel for Intellectual Property and Licensing at Microsoft. Microsofts patent portfolio is the largest and strongest in the software industry, and this agreement demonstrates our mutual respect for intellectual property as well as our ability to reach pragmatic solutions to IP issues regardless of whether proprietary or open source software is involved. The licensing agreement is another example of the important role IP plays in ensuring a healthy and vibrant IT ecosystem. Since Microsoft launched its IP licensing program in December 2003, the company has entered into more than 600 licensing agreements and continues to develop programs that make it possible for customers, partners and competitors to access its IP portfolio. The program was developed to open access to Microsofts significant R&D investments and its growing, broad patent and IP portfolio. In recent years, Microsoft has entered into similar agreements with other leading companies, including Apple Inc., HP, LG Electronics, Nikon Corp., Novell Inc., HOYA CORPORATION PENTAX Imaging Systems Division, Pioneer Corp., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and Fuji Xerox Co. Ltd. More information about Microsofts licensing programs is available at http://www.microsoft.com/iplicensing. Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. For more information, press only: Rapid Response Team, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide for Microsoft, (503) 443-7070, r...@waggeneredstrom.com Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsofts Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx. " regards, alexander. P.S. "I'm insufficiently motivated to go set up a GNU/Linux system so that I can do the builds." Hyman Rosen <hyro...@mail.com> The Silliest GPL 'Advocate' P.P.S. "Of course correlation implies causation! Without this fundamental principle, no science would ever make any progress." Hyman Rosen <hyro...@mail.com> The Silliest GPL 'Advocate' -- http://gng.z505.com/index.htm (GNG is a derecursive recursive derecursion which pwns GNU since it can be infinitely looped as GNGNGNGNG...NGNGNG... and can be said backwards too, whereas GNU cannot.) _______________________________________________ gnu-misc-discuss mailing list gnu-misc-discuss@gnu.org http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/gnu-misc-discuss
