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Microsoft may hasten patent reform in the U.S.

May 13, 2007

Microsoft is a patent machine.  They basically own a patent on ’software’ in general.  Want to write code that does anything?  According to Microsoft you are in violation of at least 235 of their patents.  The latest news comes from Roger Parloff in a CNN article titled, "Microsoft takes on the free world."

Microsoft claims that free software like Linux, which runs a big chunk of corporate America, violates 235 of its patents. It wants royalties from distributors and users. Users like you, maybe.

 

Written by Alexander Muse · Filed Under Blog 

Comments

2 Responses to “Microsoft may hasten patent reform in the U.S.”

  1. Robert McLaws Says:
    May 14th, 2007 at 1:23 am

    “They basically own a patent on ’software’ in general. Want to write code that does anything?”

    Talk about FUD man. Come on, Microsoft never said that you can’t write software, which is what you’re insinuating. Microsoft just made a statement of their position on the patents, not what they’re going to do about it. You shouldn’t rush to judgement.

  2. Alexander Muse Says:
    May 14th, 2007 at 9:35 am

    Actually, I was referring to the article’s thesis. Microsoft’s strategy is not to attack Linux, but instead to go after ALL ‘free and open-source software’ ~ they call it FOSS. From the article:

    Microsoft counters that it is a matter of principle. “We live in a world where we honor, and support the honoring of, intellectual property,” says Ballmer in an interview. FOSS patrons are going to have to “play by the same rules as the rest of the business,” he insists. “What’s fair is fair.” Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith and licensing chief Horacio Gutierrez sat down with Fortune recently to map out their strategy for getting FOSS users to pay royalties. Revealing the precise figure for the first time, they state that FOSS infringes on no fewer than 235 Microsoft patents.

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