Ballmer Threatens Linux Patent Lawsuits
Found on Slashdot on Wednesday, 17 November 2004
"Today Microsoft warned several Asian countries that using Linux could subject them to lawsuits, claiming that Linux violates '228 patents'. Apparently, Steve Ballmer believes he can enforce U.S. law in Asia." Ballmer is presumably speaking about this story. So, companies which sell insurance against lawsuits and companies which make competing products both warn of the dangers of using Linux. Maybe someone should point out that Microsoft is battling dozens of patent-infringement lawsuits itself, and any user of Microsoft software (including governments) could also be sued?
Where do you want to get sued today? Strong words from a company who used cracked software itself; which is just a little worse than those "patent" claims. Besides, how serious can patents be taken? MS is known to patent everything it sees and hears, even if the "invention" has been used years (or even decades) before by others. MS just had the idea to patent it and sue others; I wouldn't say that's what patents are for.