On 6/23/07, MB Software Solutions <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Fair enough, but they certainly have no love for M$, or at least that's > the impression I got from their comments.
"no love of Microsoft?" This is not a company known for playing well with others. Microsoft wants vendors of free software to send MS money. In exchange, MS might not sue them for patents that MS may not have, may not be valid, may not be infringed, and might not survive the challenge in court. MS hasn't actually tried to take to court of any the people who they allege have infringed on patents they might not have, but they're not likely to give back the money if the whole thing turns out to be an unenforceable farce. Would you send them money for patents they don't have and you may not have infringed? Novell bought into the no-sue-covenant because they'd been negotiating a cross-licensing deal with MS for years. Novell needed the money (Novell, not MS ended up with the net profit for the deal; it was something like MS paying Novell $450 M for the cross-license, and Novell paying $50 M for the convenant; net, Novell made enough money to stay in business.) Why anyone else would sign up is a bit of a mystery. I've heard they've got a second customer, but haven't read details. P.S. The covenant is supposed to be good for five years. I wonder what kind of terms you get for a renewal? -- Ted Roche Ted Roche & Associates, LLC http://www.tedroche.com _______________________________________________ Post Messages to: [email protected] Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech Searchable Archive: http://leafe.com/archives/search/profox This message: http://leafe.com/archives/byMID/profox/[EMAIL PROTECTED] ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
