Has Microsoft begun a patent war against Linux?
Microsoft has been making threats against Linux users for a long time. Up to now, these threats were mostly bluster with claims that Microsoft had hundreds of patents that Linux users were violating with no actual patents ever being specified. The open source community has mostly considered these vague threats as just another example of Microsoft attempting to intimidate with its often used tactic of FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt). Some smaller companies did feel that it was safer to sign licensing agreements with Microsoft. Now Microsoft has filed a suit against GPS navigation vendor TomTom. TechFlash reports:
Microsoft filed suit against TomTom today, alleging that the in-car navigation company’s devices violate eight of its patents — including three that relate to TomTom’s implementation of the Linux kernel.
It’s believed to be the first time Microsoft has filed a patent suit over Linux, after claiming for years that elements of the open-source operating system violate its patents.
This legal action is causing a stir; many believe that Microsoft itself is vulnerable to charges of numerous patent infringements. However, Microsoft has a patent involving the FAT (File Allocation Table) file system that could be used as a major weapon against the open source community. Ars Technica has a good discussion of the issues involved. Commenting on the FAT technology, the article says:
If Microsoft attempts to broadly enforce this patent against Linux users and vendors, the Open Invention Network (OIN) might decide to invoke the so-called “nuclear option” and retaliate with its own massive arsenal of software patents. The OIN, which was founded to assemble a defensive patent portfolio for protecting Linux and some open source technologies, includes patents on basic principles of computing including networking, e-business, and bytecode compilation.
Microsoft has previously made broad threats against the Linux kernel and the broader open source application ecosystem, alleging that the Linux desktop stack infringes on over 200 of the company’s patents. These claims have never been substantiated and Microsoft has never disclosed specific details about which patents it believes have been infringed.
At ZDNet, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes says:
While Microsoft will vehemently deny it, a lawsuit filed earlier this week by Microsoft against in-car GPS maker TomTom represents the first shot fired in the Microsoft vs. free software war.
He concludes, “I get the feeling this is going to get ugly.”
Added later: At CNET, Matt Asay doesn’t think it’s war:
But it doesn’t necessarily mean that Microsoft has declared war on Linux.
For Microsoft to do that credibly, it would have to go where Linux is strongest and has the highest earning potential: servers. There, Microsoft will encounter IBM and others with bigger patent portfolios than its own. Microsoft has shown little appetite for that fight.
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Microsoft & Linux have always been in an open rivalry. But Microsoft has won till now every battle, mostly because of the popularity of Microsoft Windows across the world (Microsoft is worldwide & Linux mostly in the United States). Also, there are more Microsoft additional programs or applications than Linux additional programs (such as jv16 PowerTools 2009 or other registry cleaners, system utilities and System Operating Optimizers). The last argument is one of the most important, and it defines our image about the reliability and versatility of our System Operating.