Comments on: Microsoft may hasten patent reform in the U.S. http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2007/05/13/microsoft-may-hasten-patent-reform-in-the-us/ Spurring innovation and entrepreneurship. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:00:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Alexander Muse http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2007/05/13/microsoft-may-hasten-patent-reform-in-the-us/#comment-90629 Alexander Muse Mon, 14 May 2007 14:35:16 +0000 http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2007/05/13/microsoft-may-hasten-patent-reform-in-the-us/#comment-90629 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. 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.

]]> By: Robert McLaws http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2007/05/13/microsoft-may-hasten-patent-reform-in-the-us/#comment-90526 Robert McLaws Mon, 14 May 2007 06:23:39 +0000 http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2007/05/13/microsoft-may-hasten-patent-reform-in-the-us/#comment-90526 "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. “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.

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