Ballmer: Linux users owe Microsoft

[greggh]

http://www.linuxworld.com.au/index.p...39;fp;2;fpid;1

Microsoft is getting very scared now...

First they ignore you
Then they laugh at you
Then they fight you
Then you win

We are now at stage 3 according to Ghandi. From the article...

"Novell pays us some money for the right to tell customers that anybody who uses SUSE Linux is appropriately covered," Ballmer said. This "is important to us, because [otherwise] we believe every Linux customer basically has an undisclosed balance-sheet liability."

Jones also challenged Ballmer to "put his money where his mouth is" and detail exactly what part of the Linux kernel source code allegedly infringes upon Microsoft patents, so that "folks will strip out the code and work around it or prove his patent invalid." Ballmer did not provide details during his comments Thursday. But he was adamant that Linux users, apart from those using SUSE, are taking advantage of Microsoft innovation, and that someone -- either Linux vendors or users -- would eventually have to pay up. "Only customers that use SUSE have paid properly for intellectual property from Microsoft," he said. "We are willing to do a deal with Red Hat and other Linux distributors." The deal with SUSE Linux "is not exclusive," Ballmer added.

[aysiu]

Ballmer? Microsoft?

I've moved this to Windows discussions...

[greggh]

Originally Posted by aysiu Ballmer? Microsoft? I've moved this to Windows discussions...

Could you please move it back to the cafe? This is really much more about Linux, Open Source, Big Business, etc... than it is about Windows. I'd appreciate your consideration. Thanks.

[23meg]

OK, now they've come clean; they are planning to cause trouble, and Novell has made one fatal move that will most likely end up with it being the next SCO in the eyes of the FOSS community. Good to hear that Red Hat doesn't sound like it will play along.

[aysiu]

Originally Posted by greggh Could you please move it back to the cafe? This is really much more about Linux, Open Source, Big Business, etc... than it is about Windows. I'd appreciate your consideration. Thanks.

Moved back.

[greggh]

Thank you aysiu.

[steven8]

@Ballmer - The check is in the mail. . .

[DC@DR]

Why don't the hell on earth that IBM,Google or HP, some of big names, just come around and support FOSS/GNU/Linux on its way to fight for FREEDOM? We need some big guys stay right behind us and protect freedom lovers from such devils like MicroSH*T. DAMN!

[steven8]

Fear. Those guys are big, but I believe they all fear Microsoft. In a world where your future depends on how well you can provide for your shareholders, you don't want to do anything to jeopardize that. Big business is not about freedom. Quite the opposite.

[newbie2]

Groklaw - Digging for Truth
http://www.groklaw.net/