On 14 May 2007 15:34:44 +0100, Ciaran O'Riordan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
..
Microsoft want two things. They want to make people afraid to use
GNU+Linux, and they want to get money from the people who do use GNU+Linux.
They worked together with Novell to find a way to get money from people who
use GNU+Linux. Today, customers of Novell are paying Microsoft. Microsoft
would probably like to expand this to include customers of all the other big
GNU+Linux companies, but GPLv3 will probably stop this when it is finished.
It's amazing how much one's outlook changes with a change in environment.
I just read this article from Fortune:
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/05/28/100033867/index.htm
And frankly, it doesn't bother me at all. Large corporate Linux
backers (like my employer.. and IBM..) aren't going to buckle down to
Microsoft on this. Virtually all large software companies have a huge
stash of patents to wave when things like this happen. So nothing's
going to change.
Perhaps Microsoft will be able to shake some money out of some people.
Perhaps my employer will be able to shake some money out of people
(based on the premise that if you get Unbreakable Linux support, you
are shielded from infringement suits by Larry). It's all just a
calculated scheme to get more money FROM THE PEOPLE WHO CAN PAY. And
it will probably work..
But the rest of the world will continue using Linux for free. Just
like they (illegally) use Windows for free.
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