Comments on: Editors' Picks: Is Linux at risk from a Microsoft patent blitz?

Forget the SCO Group. Consider the possibility of Microsoft using its arsenal of patents to curb the open-source software.

The Internet Needs Choice

I for one am getting sick of seeing MS and their bullying techniques. When all this patent/SCO stuff is over and the smoke clears, MS will be squashed with no remorse; because of the way they've treated everybody. That's exactly what the Internet needs right now,more companies and more choices for better security.
I'm sure Gates thinks it is clever business to try and squash an OS with patents, but for those of us who are smarter than MS, we know exactly what they're doing. They're trying to secure their investments, because Linux IS stronger,faster,and more secure. Many many companies would have migrated already if it wasn't for the SCO lawsuit. Now with MS's patent claims that Linux infringes on 27 owned by MS, it's going to further delay many migrations. I wonder how long they'll publish these claims before they actually go to court.
As for Open Source, which is completely legal, the modular programming of Linux which has been seen by scientists all across the planet is far superior to the browser-centric approach of MS. Look at the Up-Time differences. MS has no game. Everytime you add something, you have to reboot. Not so with Linux, just restart the service itself, and no other service drops. The People aren't going to forget how big of a jerk MS has been. MS can have the entertainment industry for all we care, but hopefully SOON their place in IT will be another page in the history books.

careful

"MS can have the entertainment industry for all we care,"
for all I care, an entity with the behaviuor of Microsoft can have nothing. They will make as much of a mess wherever they set their foot

Law is Obsolete, Needs Upgrade

I'm sure many of us realize that the whole system is messed up and being taken advantage of. It's easily done when you're working with people who don't understand the computer biz.
Someone needs to seriously inform these departments about the problem. Congress should be informed. Senators should be informed. These poor uninformed souls are being manipulated by tricky software companies. There should be a seperate patent department for software, and it should be comprised of well-recognized individuals with law and computer science degrees.
This stuff seriously needs an upgrade.

Penquin will break all the windows!

Any claims that SOFTWARE can be patented is pure fraud.

We need law to invalidate all software patents.

You can not patent the LOGIC!

Patents are applicable only to tangible items!

As far as what future will do?

Penguin will break all the windows and we all will help him to sucseed.

Enough of Microsoft MONOPOLY!

Selling computers with preloaded operating system is illegal, the US laws prohibits bundled transactions!

Microsoft back to closet LINUX is reigning!

Illegal methods of MONOPOLISTIC POWER

Beside MONOPOLY I have not seen single invention from Microsoft, everything was copied stolen, or extorted from others.

I never hated Microsoft but more I read about more I am against their methods.

I don't want to buy PC and be told which OS I have to chose, how the hard disk is prepared at factory and how I have to use it!.

To tell one that you have to buy OS with PC shall be considered as an act of conspiracy with the intention of extortion.

Why Microsoft invented Windows XP Home, Windows XP PRO, where basicaly it was a sczm to separate the people from their money.

Remember Windows ME?

Any operating system for PC should be a public property!

PATENT on Intellectual Property?

Patent on LOGIC?

Joke of the century.

[cmcmanis]

Rock and a hard place

Think about this, Microsoft used the defense in their Antitrust trial that they were threatened by Linux. If they use their patent portfolio to shut Linux down, they prove they are an unchallenged monopoly. They lose, game over.

I say, bring it on!

This whole situation was caused by

that pudgy, squeaky, greedy SOB. By using monopoly
power, he forces viable companies out of business. Now there are tens of thousands talented software developers looking for expression and a means of livelihood. The open source movement was created as their only hope. But will he let them be? No.
I don't understand why the DOJ chooses to turn a blind eye to this. If they become the only software publishing company, then how many developers can they employ? Especially now that he is taking the jobs offshore.

"Where do you want to go today?"

That's their mantra. You can no longer hope to
create the next "killer application" because M$
will copy your software and use monoply power
to edge you out of the turf. So where can you really run to? They don't even bother to create anything original. Yet they want to be champions of patents and IP.

[artswan]

Microsoft will try, but....

Linux is not an operation system. It's a kernel. A core program that connects the software to the computer hardware. All the other software surrounding the linux kernel is from various sources, mostly GNU, and other open source projects, with some proprietary software thrown in.

The only real target you can have is the linux kernel. All the other parts of the "operating system" are seperate entities, they can be changed or replaced. The kernel too, can be rewritten, recoded, have new algorithms, new ways of being compiled, new ways of interfacing.

Trying to undo Linux by using patent restrictions is like shooting at a swarm of bees with an AK-47. You may hit a few of them, but you are going to do no real damage to the hive.

So come on Microsoft, and all other takers, give it your best shot. Every time you try to latch onto Linux, it will simply slip through your fingers, like quicksilver. You might as well be trying to kill a ghost.

so what do we do now

I will go a little beyond the topic proposed by Michael Canellos. The question of whether Linux - and open source at large - will win or lose this round is of practical concern for everyone in the industry. But you can not help wondering what hit us - not to mention people flaming at each other :)

The words technology and software are used in the same phrase often enough. Yet the process of creating software - programming - can be thought of as art or science as well. We all know that architecture is something that helps create beautiful buildings. Programmers also know that software architecture is something that helps create beautiful programs. For all the resources that go into programming, and the big stake placed on the result, it all hinges on something being "beautiful".

There are a lot of hobyists out there tinkering with classical technology - the kind that produces real world, touchable objects. To my knowledge none of that is leading edge. Therefore when software started as a hobby competes with the best of what industry has to offer, it may be proof that the word technology is just a vague and misleading label. Richard Stallman saw it from a mathematicians perspective. To him, it looked so much like culture that he dedicated his life to bringing it to the public domain. Remember that mathematics is the unseen part of culture. As such, mathematicians strive to keep ideas alive, and not to burry them under proprietary methods. Mostly everyone in the software industry has some mathematical training, and can relate to this.

There remains the issue of making a living if you are a programmer. We have other places to turn to for inspiration than the corporate employee model. Artists make a living from their art, and scientists make a living from their science. In both cases there are grants invloved, from various sources, and awarded in various ways. Maybe something akin would be more suitable. The peer review process is essential - as I see it - in the creation of good software. There can be no such thing in a corporation, no matter how enlightened.

Viable alternatives exist. There are huge gaps between what is possible, what will happen, and what is best. If we take the path of minimal resistance - use pre-existing legislation - we may end up paying a much steeper price than we imagine.

Oh, and by the way, that ddos atack idea is really stupid. Just my two cents.

RE: Microsoft seems to forget

Microsoft seems to forget that it cloned existing technology to create Windows, and now it wants to crush the very thing that spawned its vast empire? I think Gates, Ballman and their cronies are suffering from a severe case of sour grapes and an ever increasing lack of imaginative drive.
Linux on the other hand is a self perpetuating movement that has no leaders. Why is it that bugs and security holes in Linux are fixed in hours whilst Microsoft can take days or weeks to fix similar problems?
This debate is not about Linux vs MS but about freedom of choice and free market competition.

Price and Free Market Economy

All you Microsoft supporters, I want you to think of one thing. Back in the 80's in the Windows 1.0, 2.0 days, the operating systems were going for 100 dollars. There was much choice for operating systems.

Price and Free Market Economy Continued...

sorry, my keyboard is broken and it must have clicked something.

Anyways, nowdays, Windows controls more than 90% of the market (on the desktop anyways). In a lot of ways, you are forced to use their software. Notice how prices have significantly increased??? Now, some company in Australia (can't think of the name), threatened to use open source software suc as Linux instead of Microsoft's software. The company got the software from Microsoft at almost less than half price. Now...notice how when Microsoft is threatened, prices drop???? Honestly, you Microsoft supporters that want Linux crushed, be careful what you wish for. If you enjoy buying Microsoft's software at very high prices, then prey for the destruction of Linux. For those of you that enjoy living in a communist environment where you are told what has to be put on your computer, prey for the destruction of Linux. For those of you that enjoy being forced to use an inferior product plagued by viruses, worms and trojans, as well as spyware (which is unheard of in Linux btw), prey for the destruction of Linux.


But, for those of you who enjoy the freedom of choice and competition, which is the basis for our society which is a free market economy, and for competitive prices, prey for the future of Linux.

Think about it, is Linux hurting you if you only use Microsoft. No, many of you have never even heard of Linux. It is helping you, because the little bit of competition Microsoft has is forcing them to keep their prices fairly low. Do you honestly think if Apple was the only real competition for home desktop operating systems that Windows would sell for $200, nope, try $500+...considering Apple's Mac OS only works on expensive hardware. Oh, that is a perfect example. There is no competition for computer's that run Mac OS and look at the price of the hardware. Do you think if Intel sold PPC processors, Apple would sell them for as much as they are sold??? Definately not.

Part of me wishes for the death of Linux just so I can watch you walk into a store and pay thousands and thousands for a computer that would sell for hundreds in a more competitive environment. You uneducated fools deserve it.