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Microsoft claims free software violates patents

Posted May 14, 2007 at 3:52PM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: PC Gaming Tags: Goldman Sachs, Linux, Microsoft, Steve Ballmer, Wal-Mart

Microsoft is reaching out its hand of global domination once more - the worldwide software company claims that free software like Linux violates their patents.

It's pretty clear that Linux users enjoying their free operating systems at home would be affected, but corporate users like Wal-mart, AIG, and Goldman Sachs will be in quite a pinch. Microsoft responds through CEO Steve Ballmer that it is a matter of principle, that everyone should play by the same rules and what fair is fair.

Furthermore, Microsoft Counsel Brad Smith reveals that these free software infringes at least 235 patents. If they can push this through, the software developers will diminish and Microsoft will continue to spread its influence to those that use open-source programs.

In defense, master legal strategist Eben Moglen of the Free Software Foundation explains that software is a mathematical algorithm and thus, not patentable. Free software have always been running in this premise, they're not afraid of whatever Microsoft comes up with.

For more info about this news, check out the link below.

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sigh... this is why I tell everyone Microsoft is just evil as hell. There's no end to their control over EVERYTHING, I dont think it'll ever stop. They rip off Mozilla and Firefox with their new Explorer but i guess that's just fine. They buy off people it's just sad how there's no chance for competion anymore. They got all the money and they will just sue you to death if you try to do anything. We should all be zombies instead of thinkers with this open source, is that what they want? Why dont they just drop it, it's not like it's burning a hole in their pockets. Or do they need another mansion somewhere?

# i agree with you — Guest 2007-05-14 18:07

that is some BS these people don't give a $h!t about anything. What do they really need any more money. and can we have something for free not have to pay. well thats M$ for you. they wanna try to do the same to ps3 but its not gonna happen.

# I AGREE — Guest 2007-05-14 18:10

M$ Sucks

# m$ sucks — Guest 2007-05-15 01:33

this is why I went compeltly linux...m$ cant stand the fact they suck balls

# Evil — Guest 2007-05-15 05:29

But smart enough to crush the opposition

I love linux, but microsoft works just fine. Oh, and never buy windows, just get it for free somewhere, they hand it out like candy.

# what — Guest 2007-05-15 09:23

well, mozilla should sue them for tabbed browsing. why are they trying to take over everytihing??

# This is why... — Guest 2007-05-15 10:29

This is why I have no bad feelings about the things I do.

# Damn — Guest 2007-05-15 11:00

Microsoft is just a greedy company that wants more and more money and control. They are "umbrella corp".

# ... — Guest 2007-05-15 12:11

GNU license should not allow M$ use their code, and sue them for all their profits!

# micro — Guest 2007-05-15 12:16

How do they intend to sue against FREE software not distributed or sold.

Microsoft software is completely closed source so i dont see how they could be infringing on that, and any similarities dont matter, because they arent selling it!

# lol — Guest 2007-05-15 13:33

how bout we sue microsoft since they stole all the patents from playstation and nintendo and sega

# M$ always wants more monopol, to let us down just after they have it! — senjutsu 2007-05-15 13:36

Like windows ( they stopped putting efforts a WHILE ago, and they only polished a bit for vista because of apple... )

like the xbox ( after they released the x360, they just "stoppped" producing xbox, killing countless small developpers who were making games for the system (since the xbox games were also discontinued, and because the x360 games cost a lot more to make).

like the x360? ( they will surely drop us dead with a new and shiny but nothing more usefull console (way before the x360 peak ) like xbox 1080 or wathever, and produce games on HD-DVD even if nobody buy HD-DVDs just to "get the biggest *****" against sony. Like always, the fans and the devs will pay for this...

PS: I think Linux cannot loose and that M$ is stupid about this!

# senjutsu — Guest 2007-05-16 00:41

DUHH Its called the 360 Elite and is fully compatible with every 360 game, Sony sued Lik Sang etc and you all cried how much you hated Sony.

http://www.lik-sang.com/

like the PS1 ( after they released the PS2, they just "stoppped" producing PS1, killing countless small developpers who were making games for the system (since the PS1 games were also discontinued, and because the PS2 games cost a lot more to make). ETC ETC ETC

# And what about Sony lets not forget them — Guest 2007-05-16 00:45

And what about Sony and Lik Sang etc ?. short memorys ?..

http://www.lik-sang.com/

# creativity and inteligance — Guest 2007-05-16 03:18

On the one hand buisness wise this is the smartest move any company could make. It could lead to maximum profits because a lot of people would say "Hey if i can buy a MS product for the same price as a Linux and MS is generaly more user friendly, heck ill buy MS" obviously the MS being more user friendly is a generalisation but remember the average customer knows jack. They base there information on other media influences and Microsoft is probably the best known company out there.

The problem as i see it is that this hinders creativity. If you know that the program your making is going to be free, your able to put in exactly what you want because your not thinking "Is this feature worth the money". So your able to experiment and so come up with features and programs that could revolutionise the industry.

You can see an example of this with the latest PS3 launch. All the games that have been released so far are almost carbon copies of everything that has come before. This is because if a company experiments with something they are going to put a certain amount of money into it, but there is no garentie that the product will sell well and so recoup the expensis. If the developer knows from the start that they won't get any money then there is no pressure involved.

Anyway this is just my take on it. I used to be very anti Microsoft but these days I can see the need for a unifide network of computers. Doesn't mean there isn't a need for linux though as it gives developers a place to experiment before they take the risk of developing it for Microsoft.

# lik sang dug theyr own hole... — Guest 2007-05-16 03:42

if sony sends you a letter, stating that you should stop selling Asian PSP to European Customers and you dont follow it, they'r bad.

This is called "paralell-importing" which is illegal in most if not all countrys all over the world. afaik the only country its legal that I recall is Switzerland.

But "software" and "patents" is something completly different

# HAH — Guest 2007-05-16 04:03

i hope linix gets crushed

becieds windows bringing up the point

but ya it kills me to see people breaking copyrights not just billgates's hes just the one we focis on

# Know one likes a smart ass — Guest 2007-05-16 23:47

Ok mr name one thing that microsoft had made that GOOD! then compair it to open sorce gnu software and apple macitosh stuff.

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